Leeds Rhinos Netball announce record-breaking deal with NIC FM Services

Leeds Rhinos Netball have announced the biggest sponsorship deal in the history of the club, with NIC FM Services confirmed as their first headline partner.

NIC FM Services Group has been a partner of the club since their inaugural season in 2021 and the company has now agreed a long-term deal which will see the team known as NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball for the next five seasons.

NIC Services Group is an award-winning multi-service provider in the UK facilities sector. They provide a wide range of diverse service solutions including cleaning, security, catering and many more services. The Leeds-based business has been a long-term supporter of the Leeds Rhinos Rugby League team and its extended investment in the Netball team comes at a key time, following the announcement from Netball Super League to restructure the competition in 2025 to make it more competitive and commercially vibrant with the ambition to move towards professionalisation.

This year, Leeds Rhinos Netball was one of eight teams to successfully tender for a franchise in the new look competition and the deal with NIC FM Services is seen as a vital investment to help the club achieve its ambitions to grow the game and have a competitive Pathway and elite netball team.

Dan Busfield, Franchise Director of NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball said: “Having the support of someone like NIC FM Services Group is massive and enables us to grow as a club.  It’s huge for women’s sport and netball in the city that an organisation has given us their backing for such a lengthy period of time.  It will help us develop all areas of the club, from the Pathway up to the elite team.

“NIC FM Services Group want to offer long-term support and were inspired by the vision set out for Netball 2.0 and seeing where that can go.  We want to be part of the future of the sport and without NIC FM Services Group we wouldn’t have been able to.  It’s a fantastic partnership and hopefully, we can work towards the end goal of full-time professionalisation for the athletes.”

John Spencer, Group Chairman for NIC FM Services Group said: “Last season I went to the majority of the matches and I saw how the game was growing. It is a wonderful family sport and, as a business we wanted to be a part of that and increase our support.  It’s an exciting time to be involved in the sport and I believe there is a bright future for the game.

“I will take enormous pride seeing the team playing next season with our name alongside the Rhinos.  We have a new team and a big season ahead.  To think of where we have come from three seasons ago to where we are now is remarkable and there is much more to come.  We are delighted to be part of a new era for netball in this country, the vision to grow and become professional is something we want to be part of. I think the changes for this year will help make Super League more competitive and strengthen the game on the international scene too.”

In August, NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball revealed their ten-player squad to compete in the 2025 Netball Super League, with Commonwealth gold medal winner Geva Mentor returning alongside Malawian international and last year’s top goal scorer Joyce Mvula and Future Roses stars Harriet Jones and Cassie Howard.

Liana Leota, Director of Netball for NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball, welcomed the backing of NIC FM Services, ahead of her third season in charge of the team.

“It’s been great to have John and the team from NIC FM Services Group on board for the last four seasons and now for them to pledge their long-term commitment to our club.  What’s great is that he has got to know us and the players first, he has been part of the family and he really cares about netball and where it is going.  It feels like a natural progression having had that organic connection with him and I am glad we have their support for five years.

“I am fortunate that I came through when New Zealand and Australian teams joined the ANZ and back then there were huge companies backing it and it helped turn the whole thing professional, which allows the athletes to focus purely on netball.” 

Cassie Howard, who is the club’s longest-serving player and last year’s Fans’ Player of the Season added: “I can’t wait to start this season, there has been a lot of change over the summer and now we are looking forward to the new girls coming in along with some of the familiar faces from last year.

“I think the sponsorship and backing from NIC is massive for us.  It’s been important for us at the start of Netball 2.0 and as the game looks to move towards professionalisation, the support, sponsorship and backing from organisations will play a big part in moving the game on and the players can focus on playing the sport that they love rather than balance playing with full-time jobs.”

Claire Nelson, Managing Director of Netball Super League said: “This exciting long-term headline sponsorship deal from NIC Services signifies their substantial commitment to supporting Leeds Rhinos’ ambitions within this new professional era of the Netball Super League. The relaunched NSL will take netball to new heights on and off the court, and we look forward to seeing how this partnership will capture the passion of the sport to deliver even more excitement and incredible new experiences for new and existing fans.”