First Bus teams up with Leeds Rhinos to support women's game in rugby and netball

The partnership will encourage awareness among girls and young women to discover more about both sports and the benefits to physical health and wellbeing, create easier and cheaper travel to access matches and support the club’s off-field and off-court activities at grassroots.

The announcement is made as the Leeds Rhinos women’s rugby team prepare for a friendly this weekend (12 February) against Warrington Wolves Women which follows the men’s fixture in the Betfred Super League.

The First Bus logo will feature on both rugby and netball strips for the upcoming 2022 season and the bus operator is introducing a selection of offers for fans to encourage use of the bus for sustainable travel to and from matches. These include a 10 Game Day ticket for half price travel for club season members and 50 per cent off an Adult Single fare bought on the First Bus app on matchdays for men’s and women’s games, making it £1 for trips from Leeds city centre to Headingley Stadium.

Ultra-low emission buses are used on First Bus routes to and from Headingley Stadium with multiple services available. The 19/19A and 56 stop on Kirstall Lane outside the ground and the 1/1B, 6, 8, 27, 28 and 85 serve Headingley Lane, leaving a short walk to the gates.

Fans heading to netball matches at the First Direct Arena are equally well-connected with the 1/1B, 5/5A 6, 8, 27, 28, 56 and 85 all stopping on Woodhouse Lane and the 51/52  serving Wade Lane and Lovell Park Road, all close to the venue on Clay Pit Lane.

These buses are helping to cut carbon and exhaust emissions and to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion in busy areas of the city.

Leeds Rhinos boasts two of the most high-profile and respected squads in each sport. The rugby league team has won the Super League and two Challenge Cups and is about the begin its fifth season in the top-flight. The netball team includes Jade Clark, England’s most-capped player, and reached the play-offs in its debut in the Vitality Superleague in 2021. They are the only franchise from Yorkshire playing netball at the premier level.

Through the Leeds Rhinos Foundation, the club works with schools and community clubs and hosts summer camps for rugby and netball to develop the skills and aspirations of young players. It also has a range of community projects, festival and events to promote health and education to all parts of the community.

Ross Johnstone, Commercial Manager of First Bus West Yorkshire, said: “We’re excited to build on our relationship with Leeds Rhinos and, just like the fans, we can’t wait to see the players appear in their kit for the opening games.

“This partnership is about working together to connect local people and communities to the club they love and supporting live leisure activities that will help the economic revival of Leeds.

“Elite sporting competition is one of the many areas of life that people are getting back to enjoy from right where the action is and we’re ready to take supporters to the watch their favourite players when both seasons gets underway in February.”

Gary Hetherington, Chief Executive of Leeds Rhinos, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with First Bus especially with a focus on girls and women’s sport. We are beginning to see our city open up again in 2022 following the pandemic and we want as many people getting out and about playing and watching sport. The First Bus network across the city is not only great for fans on matchdays but every day as they travel to take part in their sport and leisure time.”

ENDS