Netball Super League | Wasps star leads first training on new courts

Wasps Netball star Sam May was on hand to lead the inaugural training session at the new outdoor courts at the £49 million University of Warwick’s Sports and Wellness Hub.

The masterclass marked the first time the courts had been used – as the two-time Vitality Netball Superleague champion put the University’s netball club through their paces.

The courts – like all the new facilities – will be available for community use, hosting netball training sessions, matches and tournaments.

The three new outdoor courts are floodlit and suitable for use throughout the year.

Sam, who has signed with Wasps for a third season, ran through a series of drills and shared her expertise which has made her one of the leading defensive forces in the Vitality Netball Superleague.

Sam said: “The new courts here are fantastic and it was great to be among the first group to step onto them.

“The new Sports and Wellness Hub is stunning and we’re looking forward performing on the indoor courts too when we get a chance.

“These courts are at the University, but they are for the whole community and they are a great addition to the sports facilities across Coventry and Warwickshire.”

The courts are among the first facilities to be available for use at the new hub, which is set to open fully in April 2019.

It will include a 230-station gym, a 25-metre swimming pool, multi-purpose sports halls, a cutting-edge climbing wall, six squash courts and a range of outdoor sports pitches.

The facility will be open for public use and feature free on-site parking.

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Director of Sport & Active Communities at the University of Warwick, said: “We’d like to thank Sam for coming down to try out the new courts and for an athlete of her calibre to be the first to use them is fantastic.

“Our new outdoor courts will be of great benefit to the netball club at the University, so it was great to get them down to try them out for the first time

“The courts are available for local people to use and we want to encourage clubs and communities to get in touch and take advantage of the new facilities.”

Cammie McCready, University of Warwick Women’s Netball Club president, added: “I think the new courts are absolutely fantastic, expanding the facilities here will only serve to get more people involved in netball.

“It was really exciting to be the first people to come and try out the courts, they are premium quality and to have the chance to train with Sam made it even more memorable for all us.”

Tickets are now on sale for Super 10 – get your squad together and head to the season opener on Saturday 5th January 2019 at Arena Birmingham!