Ruth Hughes joins NIC Rhinos Netball for the 2027 season

NIC Rhinos Netball are delighted to welcome Ruth Hughes to the club ahead of the 2027 Netball Super League season.

A dynamic and hard-working midcourter, Hughes arrives in Leeds after establishing herself at Netball Super League level with Birmingham Panthers.

Having spent time as a training partner with Wasps, LexisNexis Dragons and Severn Stars where she made her NSL debut, Hughes earned her opportunity at the highest level when she secured a full-time contract with Birmingham Panthers in 2025. She reunited with Head Coach Jo Trip, who had previously handed Hughes her Netball Super League debut during their time together at Severn Stars in 2023.

Comfortable at both Centre and Wing Attack, Hughes is renowned for her speed, vision and ability to drive attacking transitions. During the 2026 season, she featured in 12 matches for Panthers, contributing 150 feeds and 45 centre pass receives while continuing to demonstrate her value as a creative link in the midcourt.

Hughes has also enjoyed success on the international pathway, touring Australia and New Zealand with England Under-19s before helping England Under-21s win the Netball Europe title.

Away from the court, Hughes balances elite sport with a career in healthcare, having qualified with a Master of Pharmacy from the University of Birmingham, currently working as a foundation pharmacist alongside her Netball.

Speaking after joining the Rhinos, Hughes said:

"It feels great. I'm super excited for this season and for another year as part of the Netball Super League, it's something that I'm incredibly grateful for, but also to join the environment and the culture that they have at the Rhinos and be able to build on that with them and create ambitions as part of the team.

“I’m looking forward to a new experience here. Lauren, I know is very experienced so it will be great to have another experience of being coached by herself and just seeing what I can learn from her.”

Speaking on life outside of netball, Ruth said: “I'm also a pharmacist, that's what I do as my other job. But I'm also very much a family girl, so I love spending time with my partner and my parents. I do a lot around home and I'm very outdoorsy, so I love going for walks.”

What can Rhinos fans expect from your style of play?

“Well, you can expect lots of speed and lots of smarts, that's how I can describe my game of netball. I'll be here there and everywhere and getting involved in everything."

Lauren Palmer added:

“Ruth is another really exciting addition to our centre court. I’ve worked with her before, back in the North West, a number of years ago, so I know what she can bring to a team. She’s a really dynamic centre-court player who is feisty, works incredibly hard and is absolutely rapid around the court.

“She gives us a very different dimension in the mid-court and brings a real intensity to the way she plays. I’m really excited to link up with Ruth again and get her in the Rhinos dress.”