Netball Super League | Pride – Upcoming NSL Themed Round

Rainbow lace during the game between Loughborough Lightning and Wasps Netball, March 2022 Credit: Ben Lumley

For rounds 14 and 15, the Netball Super League (NSL) will be celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with a double-header-themed weekend.

Taking place from 28 April to 1 May, the NSL will be coming together to proudly show support for the LGBTQ+ community and drive education and funding to ensure there is a place for everyone in netball.

As part of the Pride-themed double-header weekend, the league is teaming up with the charity, Stonewall to support the Rainbow Laces campaign, raise awareness about LGBTQ+ equality.

What will be happening?

Over the weekend clubs across the league will come together to celebrate Pride in ways as unique as the netball community; through the decoration of venues, fundraising drives, merchandise stands and lots of other exciting, vibrant celebrations.

Meanwhile, players, coaches and umpires will be provided with Rainbow laces to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community during their games.

“It’s important that we as a league continue to promote and celebrate people’s differences.”

Loughborough Lightning’s Natalie Panagarry, a champion for Stonewall, was a driving force behind organising an LGBTQ+ charity match last season and is looking forward to seeing the league come together to celebrate Pride.

“It’s great to see clubs across the league coming together to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community,” Natalie says. “The Netball Family is filled with diversity and it’s important that we as a league continue to promote and celebrate people’s differences.”

“I hope that by spreading further awareness about Pride through the league’s themed round we can encourage more people to have conversations about what it means to be LGBTQ+.”

Jake O’Dwyer, Head of Individual Giving and Innovation at Stonewall added: “For almost ten years, Rainbow Laces has brought visibility for LGBTQ+ people in sport and raised awareness of our experiences as fans, participants and players.

“Sport has the power to change minds and change the world, but it can only do that if we’re all free to participate as ourselves.

In the past year, we’ve seen so much progress made, with several athletes bravely coming out across multiple sports, with support from their clubs and the vast majority of fans. But we still have a lot of work to do to make sport everyone’s game.

“We are delighted to be working together with England Netball and the Netball Super League for Pride round, proving that sport is everyone’s game.”

How to show your support

There are a number of ways you can get involved with the Pride theme.

Join your local team and celebrate live in venue.

Many clubs will have in-venue activations that you can get involved with. Tickets to all club matches taking place across the weekend can be purchased here

If you would like to buy your own set of Rainbow laces to wear and show your support, click on the link below.

Buy your own Rainbow Laces

Donate to our fundraiser for Stonewall

If you are able to, you can donate to our charity partner for the Pride round, Stonewall. Now in their tenth year of running the Rainbow Laces campaign, Stonewall are fighting to create a world where all people are free to be themselves and live lives to the full.

You can find out more about the work of the LGBTQ+ charity here.

Donate to Stonewall

Learn more about LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport:

See how you can be supportive of LGBTQ+ people in sport by checking out these freely available online resources.

Top tips for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport – Stonewall

Guidance and resources – England Netball

It all begins with Friday Night Netball

The weekend doubleheader gets underway with Friday Night Netball, live on Sky Sports from the Allam Sports Centre in Hull, where Leeds Rhinos take on Strathclyde Sirens.

Nothing could separate the two sides last time out with Sirens’ rescuing a point in the dying seconds in Glasgow. Tune in on Sky Sports TV and YouTube at 7pm.