benecosMavericks become Saracens Mavericks after new partnership
"This has been a fantastic opportunity to join forces with Saracens and continue to push to be the standout, ultimate franchise within Vitality Superleague."
Friday 4 January 2019 17:13, UK
benecosMavericks have formed a mutually beneficial partnership with Saracens after the rugby club acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Vitality Netball Superleague team.
The north London rugby club and the renamed Saracens Mavericks believe that the union help fuel the next phase of growth for both organisations.
The strategic partnership will be underpinned by sharing resources and insight for elite player performance. It aims to bring access to a wider fanbase, commitment to community outreach programmes and the integration of key business functions between the two.
Saracens Mavericks are looking to go all the way this season and win a third Superleague title - their last came back in 2011.
That quest starts on Saturday at Arena Birmingham when all 10 teams will be taking to court for the Super 10, live on Sky Sports. Saracens Mavericks will be last on court at 7pm when they meet Manchester Thunder.
Meanwhile, Saracens Rugby Club have their sights fixed on retaining their domestic title this season and excelling on the European stage to try and secure a third Heineken Champions Cup title.
Kathryn Ratnapala, Saracens Mavericks' Director of Netball, shared her excitement about the partnership.
"This has been a fantastic opportunity to join forces with Saracens and continue to push to be the standout, ultimate franchise within Vitality Superleague," she said.
"Saracens have proved to be role models and leaders in their field and merging with this high-performance culture and club is a great step forward for Mavericks.
"We would like to thank benecos for their support for the last two years as we continue to work with them as our title sponsor this season."
The feeling of excitement is equally shared by Tim Hunt, who oversees the commercial operation at Saracens.
"Netball is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and we are excited to be joining forces with Mavericks. Part of our growth strategy is to collaborate with others that share our ethos and help widen our audience reach," he said.
"To achieve this, the dual-priority is to create an environment where our elite teams continually strive for sporting excellence and to inspire our local communities to lead healthier, happier lives through the positive power of sport. Mavericks mirror our culture making them a perfect match for Saracens."
A huge 2019 for netball on Sky Sports gets underway on Saturday January 5 with all 10 teams in action, coverage on Sky Sports Mix, Arena and Main Event begins at 10.45am
