The University of Hertfordshire has launched a new partnership with Saracens Mavericks, agreeing to become one of the Vitality Netball Superleague team’s principal partners over the next three years.
The new deal extends the strong 16-year partnership between the two organisations, during which the Saracens Mavericks have won two Superleague titles (in 2007-08 and 2011) and finished as runners-up five times (2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2015).
Through the partnership, talented University of Hertfordshire netball players are supported with making the transition into topflight senior netball, at home and abroad. Netball is one of six ‘performance sports’ at the University, and athletes on the ‘performance sport’ programme have access to world-class coaching, strength and conditioning services, physiotherapy, and more – helping them achieve their academic and sporting aspirations.
Four recent University of Hertfordshire graduates’ make-up the current Saracens Mavericks’ senior squad, playing alongside seasoned internationals including Commonwealth gold medalists Kadeen Corbin and Jodie Gibson.
Saracens Mavericks players, including those in their under-19 and under-21 youth squads, can also study on the University’s degree programmes and compete for the institution’s netball team – who won the British Universities and Colleges Sport National Championship in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Saracens Mavericks have made Hertfordshire Sports Village, located on the University’s de Havilland campus in Hatfield, their main base. They play the majority of their Superleague home games and train weekly there, and make use of the 750-seated netball venue. They also benefit from Performance Herts’ world-class strength and conditioning services.
Bryn Clark, Deputy Director of Sport at the University of Hertfordshire, said: “As a university and, importantly, home of the Saracens Mavericks, we are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with the club, whom we have enjoyed over 16-years of successful collaboration.
“We are excited at the prospect of growing the club’s international recognition, as we look to maintain Hertfordshire’s reputation as one of the most successful performance-focused netball programmes in the university sector. We are looking forward to a positive future for netball, as we further develop and enhance opportunities for our aspiring young athletes.”
Julie Morrow, Director of Women’s Sport for Saracens Mavericks, said: “The University of Hertfordshire has been a long-standing supporter of the Saracens Mavericks. We have successfully transitioned our pathway athletes through to the HertSquad Performance Netball Pathway, where our players have been part of the successful national championship winning teams over the past three years.
“We are excited to be growing this partnership and putting the University of Hertfordshire on the map, highlighting it as a centre for excellence in the East of England region, providing aspiring netballers with a chance to learn, develop, and play at a highly competitive level.”