nib backs Knights inaugural NRLW team
Newcastle Knights Principal Sponsor, nib health funds (nib) has reinforced its commitment to the club and elite women’s sport by coming on board as the Knights inaugural NRLW Principal Sponsor for the next two seasons.
The Knights expect to commence preparations for the upcoming NRLW competition – originally slated for September-October 2021, but delayed due to COVID-19 – early in the new year, and when they do, they will proudly wear nib’s logo on the front of their training and playing kit.
“nib is synonymous with Newcastle and the Knights and we are thrilled to have them on board as the first ever Principal Sponsor of our NRLW program,” nib Newcastle Knights Chief Executive Officer, Mr Philip Gardner said.
“2022 will be a massive year for our club and a massive year for our women’s program. Not only will we enter the NRLW for the first time, we will have a team in the Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership in addition to the Tarsha Gale Cup side we have fielded for a number of years.
“None of this is possible without the support of great partners like nib. Their support for our program and other women’s teams, like the Richmond Women’s and Auckland Blues Women’s, means they don’t just talk the talk when it comes to women’s sport. They are at the forefront of equity in sport and they deserve all due credit for it,” Mr Gardner added.
A foundation sponsor since 1988 and Principal Sponsor of the Knights at NRL level since 2017, nib’s association with the Knights runs deep and the inception of the NRLW program provided another way for nib to show its support for diversity and inclusion.
“The Knights and nib have enjoyed a very close relationship for 35 years and the launch of the NRLW program is an exciting next step for us, helping to pave the way for greater representation of women and diversity in sport,” nib Chief Executive Australian Residents Health Insurance, Ed Close said.
“While research shows that more than half of Australian women participate in sport or physical activity, there is still a large discrepancy in the total amount of sponsorship funding and broadcast coverage received by women’s sport.
“Our partnership then is about much more than just brand awareness, it’s an opportunity to work alongside female athletes to amplify their voices and leverage their skills to promote healthy messaging and encourage greater participation of women and girls in both grassroots and professional sport,” Mr Close added.
The Knights would also like to extend our appreciation to our other great NRLW sponsors, including NSW Mining, McDonalds, City of Newcastle and GPT for extending their support to women in sport.
