Ambitious netballers can hone their skills for the elite level as the University of Worcester prepares to host a new young adult training and development hub for Netball Super League franchise Birmingham Panthers.
The University will host a Panthers Under 23 hub for the 2025/26 season, with the ambition that this will grow into a long-term relationship with the franchise, supporting high level women’s netball and enhancing opportunities for young adult players in the region.
The hub will attract talented netball players from the Panthers franchise region across the West Midlands, feeding into the senior levels of the Panthers programme.
Lerverne Barber, Head of the University’s School of Sports and Exercise Science, said: “We are delighted to be working with Birmingham Panthers and playing a part in developing young players in the region, serving as a springboard for the Worcestershire area and beyond by fostering local talent.”
She continued: “We hope this may also provide an opportunity for promising young players to hone their skills to the next level while studying with us here at Worcester, and benefit from the support we can offer to high performance athletes.”
Lerverne added: “It is great for elite level netball to have a presence in the city, and we hope this will strengthen the sport locally and ultimately nationally.”
Birmingham Panthers will run the Hub content and assign coaches. Initial trials for those looking to join the new Under 23 hub will start early next month.
Based in the West Midlands, Birmingham Panthers formed in 2024 and competed in the Netball Super League 2025, with three home matches played at the University of Worcester Arena.
The Panthers’ hubs form part of their broader development pathways, which aim to provide a route for talent in the West Midlands to develop with a view to becoming the Netball Super League stars of the future.
Hayley Myles, Head of Pathway at Birmingham Panthers, said: “We’re really excited to launch a new Performance hub at the University of Worcester, which will provide an exceptional environment for aspiring athletes aged 18–22 to develop both on and off the court. This initiative strengthens the pathway between university and franchise-level netball, ensuring talented young players have access to the coaching, support, and opportunities they need to reach the next stage of their performance journey.”