Netball Super League | Paige Kindred returns to Rhinos

Paige Kindred of Leeds Rhinos during the Vitality Super League match between Leeds Rhinos and Loughborough Lightning at Studio 001, Wakefield, England on 28th February 2021.

Leeds Rhinos Netball have confirmed Paige Kindred will return for her second season with the club, becoming the seventh signing ahead of the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague season.

Kindred joined the Rhinos for the club’s debut season from Celtic Dragons. The versatile defender can play across all three defensive positions and made 18 appearances for the club last season.

The 26 year-old represented Premier League side Tameside and Manchester Thunder before moving to Superleague franchise Team Northumbria. She returned to Thunder in 2019 as a training partner, alongside current team mate Amelia Hall.

Speaking about her new deal Kindred said: “I am so happy to have signed with the Rhinos again, I have missed the girls. Although we have stayed connected over summer it will be good to have the band back together and some new additions as well, it’s going to be great.

“I really loved the contact time at the Rhinos last year, the full time programme was something that I enjoyed and kept us connected as a group. The team that were work behind the scenes are amazing so to know they are still going to be working with us so that’s great.

“It’s good that we have been able to keep a core group of players together. The connections that were built last year will continue to flourish.”

Alongside her playing career Kindred also works as a teacher, coaches as ?? and also works with Leeds Rhinos Netball’s official charity, Leeds Rhinos Foundation, to run their Netball camps and corporate tournaments.

Dan Busfield, Leeds Rhinos Netball’s Franchise Director, said: “Paige is a great character and we loved watching her play last season. She is enthusiastic, a true team player and showed huge commitment to our club – combining her busy career with training and playing.

“This year she has also worked with Leeds Rhinos Foundation to devise our Netball Camps programme for young players and these have been a huge success and I know she has more ideas of how to grow our community delivery.”

Maggie Birkinshaw, assistant coach for Rhinos Netball added: “Paige created a storm during the 2021 season as a tenacious, dogged defender, taking it to all the shooters.

“Her work ethic and willingness to learn and do whatever was asked from her to support her team really impressed me last year. I am excited to see what this group of players can do together in their second season and I think Paige is going to have another great year in the blue and amber.”