NIC Leeds Rhinos Sign Jamaican International for 2026 Campaign

NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball have signed Jamaican international goal shooter, Simone Gordon, to join their Netball Super League squad for the 2026 season.

The 6ft 5ins shooter, made her international debut for the Sunshine Girls in 2023. Last year she played for Jamaica against England and this month she represented her country in the three test-series against the Australian Diamonds.

Gordon comes into the NIC Rhinos squad as a replacement for Joyce Mvula who left the club last month following the announcement of her pregnancy.  

The 27-year-old represented Kingston Hummingbirds in Netball Jamaica's Elite League and also played for Global United in the Divisional A League. She was a member of Jamaica's team that captured the gold medal at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador, El Salvador.

Gordon will miss the Soft and Gentle Netball Super Cup on 21st February but is expected to join her team in time for the first round of the Netball Super League against Birmingham Panthers on 28th February.

Speaking about signing for NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball, Gordon said: 

“I am extremely excited to be joining NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball and the chance to compete in the Netball Super League for the first time.  I can’t wait to join up with the rest of the team in the UK and to experience a new competition.  I am ready to learn from the coaches and develop my game in a new environment and I’m looking forward to getting started.”

NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball coach Lauren Palmer said: 

“We are delighted to bring Simone to NIC Rhinos and we all can’t wait for her to get here.  She is an exciting player and obviously her height is a massive addition for us.  We've got a very good rotating circle in Paige Reed and Harriet Jones, so we wanted something that was really different. 

“Obviously, losing Joyce, who was a holding shooter under the post, we wanted to replicate that. When we heard that Simone was available and interested we moved to sign her as we thought she would be the perfect fit for our team. We've watched her play and she's got some good performances under her belt and we are excited to add a bit of Jamaican flair to our side.

“The girls were really pleased when we told them we had signed Simone and they are looking forward playing alongside her.  She will miss the Soft and Gentle Netball Super Cup so we will bring in one of our NXT Gen players who have been going really well this year and then Simone will be here when we begin our Netball Super League campaign.”

Simone is due to arrive in the UK in ahead of the Netball Super League season* (subject to visa approval) NIC Leeds Rhinos Netball play their first home game of the 2026 Netball Super League at the Canon Medical Arena on Friday 6^th March against Loughborough Lightning. Tickets are available at tickets.rhinosnetball.co.uk