Players in crisis talks after player protest over sponsor Hancock Prospecting – 21Sports News

Netball Australia and its Players’ Association are in urgent talks ahead of Sunday’s second Test of the Constellation Cup against New Zealand in Tauranga.

Fox Sports can reveal Diamond players had raised issues about taking the netball court against New Zealand wearing a uniform featuring new sponsor, Hancock Prospecting.

Netball Australia confirmed the new squad uniform had been delayed “pending the resolution of outstanding matters relating to the player interim agreement and certain sensitivities”.

Hancock Prospecting, owned by Australia’s richest woman Gina Rinehart, was recently named by Netball Australia as a multi-million-dollar sponsor of the newly minted Commonwealth Games gold medallists.

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Its logo was set to feature on the Diamonds’ uniforms during this month’s Constellation Cup against the Silver Ferns before the three-Test England Roses Series.

However, it is understood some players have concerns about the sponsorship – particularly with Indigenous player Donnell Wallam now a member of the squad.

Netball Australia said in a prepared statement: “This delay allows time to ensure players remain focused on the Constellation Cup competition and for Netball Australia and the Australian Netball Players Association to resolve these matters in an appropriate time frame”.

“Netball Australia is committed to continuing these conversations and working with all parties to the benefit of our sport.

“The Hancock Prospecting partnership is one of the most significant investments in our sport, $15m dollars will be provided over four years with 100% directed at players, coaches and the Diamonds high-performance program, providing the opportunity to help grow and strengthen netball.

“Netball Australia, Hancock Prospecting and the Diamonds will continue to work together for the benefit of the entire sport.”

Fox Sports can also confirm former Australian captain Sharni Norder addressed the playing group ahead of the Test.

Norder, a Sports Environment Alliance ambassador, said: “This is a company that doesn’t suit Netball Australia’s values.

“We’ve always stood up for social justice, we’ve always been anti-gambling, no smoking … and there were, and are, other avenues to source sponsorship.

“Lang Hancock’s past and what he said in regard to Indigenous people is just not suitable for Australian sport. Netball Australia has always tried to be inclusive … we now have Donnell in the team.

“This is not a respectful way to act and even if Donnell wasn’t in the team, we must do better.

“I did a zoom with the players just to educate them on doing right by the sport but also doing right by yourself and honouring your own values.

“I just wanted to have a conversation is that money worth your reputation and what you stand for as a person?

“Just so they are making good decisions for themselves because they represent the clubs and our country but also themselves.”

The deal was touted as helping Netball Australia’s deep financial trouble having recorded losses of more than $7 million over the past two years.

At the time the deal was announced, it was said the partnership would invest directly in the Diamonds’ athletes and coaches and provide funding support for training camps and competitions.

A statement from Hancock Prospecting said: “In keeping with tradition, our new partnership with Netball Australia is athlete focussed. Assuming Netball Australia can reach agreement with relevant parties, $3.5m dollars each year for four years can be directed to the Diamonds High Performance Program and importantly includes that 100% of these funds would go to athletes and for coach salaries and the delivery of camps and competition costs, with none to be spent on any administrative costs.”

“Hancock Prospecting understands this sponsorship would help Netball Australia to have certainty around the Diamonds Program moving forward after a period of very real financial distress. Hancock’s support would enable Netball Australia to retain ownership of all its commercial assets including the Super Netball League, ensuring the revenue from the growth can be invested directly back into the sport of netball for generations to come. We note that this would not have been possible should a commercial agreement have been implemented with another entity, prior to Netball Australia choosing Hancock Prospecting.

“We are aware that there has been some recent enquiries raised regarding Hancock’s relationships with traditional owners. Hancock has agreements with all the native title holders in the areas we operate in. These agreements provide very significant royalties to the traditional owners in all our mining areas and work very closely with the communities on providing training, jobs, business development and contracting opportunities as well as heritage, health and education initiatives.

“Assuming Netball Australia is able to reach agreement with relevant parties, we look forward to working with Netball Australia and the Diamonds to support and provide more opportunities for many people, including young indigenous people in the Pilbara, broader West Australia and Australia. In any event, we wish the athletes well for their matches against New Zealand this week.”

Wallam is set to make her debut for the Diamonds in their upcoming three-Test series against England and it is understood no players or the Players Association were consulted about the sponsorship.

For Hancock, the sponsorship continues her association with elite sport having supported Swimming Australia for over a decade, Rowing Australia since 2016 and this year announcing it would sponsor the Olympic team through to 2026 as well as a number of other philanthropic initiatives in the areas of health and education, including being a sponsor of NAIDOC since 2012 and Cambodian Children’s Fund.

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