Swansea University partners with Welsh Netball for the Wales v Silver Ferns netball test series

Swansea University and Welsh Netball are pleased to announce their partnership for the 2017 Wales v New Zealand netball test series.

Swansea University has successfully been awarded full naming rights for the much-anticipated two test match series taking place this month, building on the University’s existing partnership with Welsh Netball.

‘The Swansea University International Test Series’  Wales V Silver Ferns is being held at the ICE Arena Wales, Cardiff on 7 and 8 February.

Welcoming the agreement Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Wilks said:

“Swansea University are really proud of their sporting partnership with Welsh Netball.  We are always looking to add to our already substantial sporting partnerships which we already have with organisations such as Swansea City Football Club and Ospreys and Scarlets rugby.

“We are looking forward to developing our relationship with Welsh Netball and being able to support and profile the University at such a prestigious test series – demonstrating that we are serious about sport. “

The Chief Executive of Welsh Netball, Sarah Jones said: “We are thrilled to be able to announce Swansea University as a partner for this historic International Test series. It is a really positive step forward for Welsh Netball and women’s sport to see such a prestigious University understand the opportunities that women’s sport presents.

“ The support of Swansea University for these tests will be a starting point for a developing and mutually beneficial relationship for the future. The international tests are breaking new ground with the broadcasting deals and the Ice Arena being the largest venue to ever stage a netball international in Wales.

“This partnership, with the highly regarded Swansea University, is an exciting one and one that we are proud to promote and be associated with. We are delighted to welcome record breaking crowds to the Swansea University International Test series.”

The Silver Ferns are second in the world, and will meet eighth ranked Wales for the two fixtures.  Wales have played against the Silver Ferns just fourteen times over the last sixty years, but haven’t hosted a test match against them on home soil in almost two decades

The Wales’ long squad of 16 players for the Silver Ferns test series has been announced. The list can be found at: http://welshnetball.tumblr.com/post/156586196131/wales-long-squad-announced-ahead-of-silver-ferns

The long squad will continue with their preparations until the final 12 is selected and announced on the 6^th of February.  This will be the first time for several of the team members to play against the Silver Ferns, and it will be the first time any of them will have represented their country at the 3,000 capacity Ice Arena Wales.

The test series marks twenty years since the Silver Ferns last visited Wales to play the home team.  The Ferns remain undefeated by Wales, who will be hoping to close the gap on the score when the two sides last met in the capital city in 1997.

Be part of the supporting crowd during the games – an event for the whole family.  Get your tickets via Ticketline:  http://www.ticketline.co.uk/welsh-netball#bio

Notes

·         For more information about Welsh Netball go to http://www.welshnetball.co.uk/  or contact Cerys Bowen, Communications and Membership Engagement Officer on 02920334958/07764 969372 email: cerys.bowen@walesnetball.com

• Swansea University is     a world-class, research-led, dual campus university.  The University was established in 1920     and was the first campus university in the UK.  It currently offers around 350     undergraduate courses and 350 postgraduate courses to  circa 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate     students.

 

The University’s 46-acre Singleton Park Campus is located in beautiful parkland with views across Swansea Bay. The University’s 65-acre science and innovation Bay Campus, which opened in September 2015, is located a few miles away on the eastern approach to the city. It has the distinction of having direct access to a beach and its own seafront promenade.  Both campuses are close to the Gower Peninsula, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Swansea is ranked the top university in Wales and is currently The Times and The Sunday Times ‘Welsh University of the Year’. It is also ranked within the top 350 best universities in the world in the Times Higher Education World University rankings.

The results of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 showed the University has achieved its ambition to be a top 30 research University, soaring up the league table to 26th in the UK, with the ‘biggest leap among research-intensive institutions’ (Times Higher Education, December 2014) in the UK.

The University has ambitious expansion plans as it moves towards its centenary in 2020, as it continues to extend its global reach and realising its domestic and international ambitions.