The official pools and match schedule for the preliminary rounds of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) Netball competition have been confirmed, marking one step closer to the pinnacle event.
Wales (Photo: ©Steve Pope – Sportingwales)
Wales’ national netball team will be joined by world number 2 New Zealand, England, Scotland, Uganda and Malawi in Pool B during the preliminary rounds.
The draw of the official pools was broadcast live to the world from the Gold Coast where the Games are to be held in April 2018. Following the draw, the game schedule of all preliminary rounds was announced.
Each team will play every other team within their pool during the preliminary round matches which will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre from 5-12 April, before culminating in the finals matches at the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on 14-15 April 2018. Wales, who are ranked the 8th best team in the world take on New Zealand’s Silver Ferns in their first match of the Games on Friday the 6th of April.
Kyra Jones (Photo: ©Steve Pope – Sportingwales)
“We are excited to challenge ourselves against a wide range of playing styles that Pool B offers us,” says Wales Head Coach Trish Wilcox, “it is also a great opportunity to compete against Malawi and Uganda who we have not met since the Netball World Cup in 2015.
“I caught up with some of the squad early this morning and got a real sense of the excitement and anticipation within this group. We are going to camp this weekend and this has now made it all very real adding further motivation for us to push on with our preparation in our journey to the Gold Coast.”
International Netball Federation President, the Hon. Molly Rhone OJ, CD said: “We are confident that the GC2018 Netball Competition is going to be a fantastic showcase for our sport and a thrilling world class event, and now that the draw has taken place, excitement and anticipation is really mounting.
“We look forward to seeing our amazing athletes take to the court in April, to winning new friends for our sport, and to the success we know this competition will be for netball.”
Wales match schedule, Commonwealth Games 2018. Note, match times are local Queensland times:
Day 2, Friday 6.4.18 @ 13.00: Wales v New Zealand
Day 3, Saturday 7.4.18 @ 18.30: Scotland v Wales
Day 5, Monday 9.4.18 @ 13.00: England v Wales
Day 6 Tuesday 10.4.18 @ 20.30: Wales v Uganda
Day 7 Wednesday 11.4.18 @ 19.00: Malawi v Wales
Pool A:
Australia, Northern Ireland, Jamaica, Barbados, Fiji, South Africa.
Pool B:
England, Malawi, New Zealand, Scotland, Uganda, Wales
Wales Long Squad:
Suzy Drane
Lateisha Kidner
Kelly Morgan
Nia Jones
Clare Jones
Bethan Dyke
Kyra Jones
Chloe James
Lydia Hitchings
Leila Thomas
Sarah Llewelyn
Amanda Varey
Megan Powell
Sara Bell
Chelsea Lewis
Georgia Rowe
Eleanor Roberts
Cara Lea Moseley
Emily Holland
Cathy Bastian
Fern Davies
Report courtesy of Welsh Netball
