Netball World Cup loses key sponsor Vitality

The upcoming Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) in South Africa has suffered a significant financial hit less than three weeks before the first game, with title sponsor Vitality pulling out of the tournament.

The insurance and investments company was title sponsor for the 2019 edition of the tournament in the UK and announced in February it was partnering with this year's event in South African city of Cape Town, the home market of its parent, the financial services company Discovery.

At the time the company hailed the sponsorship as a commitment to removing inequalities in sport.

However, following failed negotiations, the company has now withdrawn its name, which has seen promotional photographic shoots needing last-minute fixes but with the original logo shows through in some imagery.

In a statement, Vitality advised “it was our intention to be the title sponsor of the Netball World Cup 2023

“Regrettably, following negotiation, we were unable to reach a mutually agreeable partnership.

“Discovery is therefore focusing its support for netball on the national teams in South Africa and England (and) is committed to female sport in South Africa and abroad, and to netball.”

South African telco Telkom and retail giant Spar will now replace VitalityHealth as the major sponsors of the World Cup.

At the time the company hailed the sponsorship as a commitment to removing inequalities in sport.

Netball Australia agrees temporary pay deal with players
Australian netballers and Netball Australia haved called a temporary truce in an ongoing pay dispute leading into the tournament.

The governing body Australia withheld the naming of the Diamonds squad until a collective bargaining agreement was signed, and was criticised by the players’ association for doing so, being urged to “decouple national selection from industrial negotiations”.

An extension of current playing terms has been agreed so the NWC2023 squad could be named

The Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) in Cape Town, South Africa will run from the 28th July to the 6th August, and will be the first to take place on the continent on Africa.

Image: Promotional photograph for the Diamonds with detail showing the coloured tape over the Vitality logos. Credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Netball Australia.