League stars back netball

Wilkin: Great Britain star

Rugby league stars Jon Wilkin and Robbie Paul have given their support to The Co-operative's bid to make netball a full participation sport in the Olympic Games.

Netball is played by one million women and girls a week in the UK, and is one of the most popular female team games in the world, but despite its popularity - and being a regular sport in the Commonwealth Games - it has never featured in the Olympics.

The Co-operative, sponsors of the netball Superleague and Co-operative National Leagues and Conference in rugby league, have lent their support to England Netball in lobbying for the sport to be played at the greatest stage of all.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has indicated his desire for netball to become a demonstration sport at the London 2012 Olympics, and he has now been joined by St Helens star Jon Wilkin, and Salford City Reds vice captain Robbie Paul.

Jon Wilkin said: "I'm fully supportive of netball's Olympic bid. Like rugby league, netball is played and has its roots in communities. It plays a vital part socially and the number of people participating each week speaks for itself.

"I've actually spent time training with the England team as part of a Great Britain camp we had, and I was hugely impressed by how talented the players were. It possesses similar attributes to our sport too, in its speed, passing, handling skills, and team work. I have a mutual appreciation for all sports men and women, and feel that netball should be given the chance on the Olympic stage."

Robbie Paul added: "When I grew up in New Zealand I played quite a bit of netball and it's a fantastic sport. It's very popular around the world, as I've seen further since coming to England, and I feel it's only right that it should be allowed to compete at an Olympic level.

"The sport is becoming even bigger in this country with the growth of the netball Superleague, and increased exposure on TV, and participation at the Olympics would be a further boost to the sport and all associated with it."

People are being urged to show their support by signing up to the Facebook group "Bid to get netball in the 2012 Olympics", which was set-up by current England international Eboni Beckford-Chambers. The group currently has over 18,000 members.