Basketball Wales and Net World Sports forge key partnership, announcing FORZA as official ball supplier
29 November 2023
Basketball Wales is pleased to announce its strategic collaboration with Wales-based eCommerce company, Net World Sports, naming them the Official Ball Supplier for the NGB. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to innovation and quality in Welsh basketball.
The partnership represents a significant milestone in the rapid growth of Welsh basketball and positions Basketball Wales as the first UK organisation to break away from tradition by introducing Net World Sports’ newly developed FORZA basketballs.
The cornerstone of this partnership is the meticulously designed, tested, and developed FORZA basketball. Working collaboratively with Basketball Wales national team players, coaches and staff, the development process for the FORZA Pro Indoor Game Ball involved multiple iterations and thorough testing. The invaluable expertise of the Basketball Wales community has played a crucial role in this journey, with feedback on each ball’s strengths and weaknesses being thoroughly analysed. Through a series of adjustments, the teams were able to fine-tune the design, materials, and performance of the ball, resulting in a top-quality basketball that is set to elevate the game and player experience across Wales, and beyond. The new range is due to be available on their website for general sale early next year, which will include the recently developed FORZA Pro Indoor Game Ball. To keep up to date with the product launch, you can sign up to the Net World Sports newsletter here.
Gavin Williams, CEO of Basketball Wales, said about the collaboration, “This partnership with Net World Sports marks a highly significant step forward for Welsh basketball. The FORZA basketballs showcase cutting-edge technology and design, reflecting our dedication to advancing the sport whilst collaborating with one of the most innovative and exciting companies in Wales.”
Under this partnership, Net World Sports will supply a quantity of FORZA basketballs to the entire Basketball Wales community, including National Squads, Basketball Wales National League teams, Development teams, schools, and affiliated clubs. The aim is to elevate the sport at all levels, promoting growth and enhance the playing experience across all levels of the sport. The partnership also includes further Basketball Wales NGB, member and club benefits, including discounts, collaboration in major future events and access to future basketball innovative products.
In addition to the innovative basketball technology, the collaboration between Basketball Wales and Net World Sports makes great sense on a deeper level. Net World Sports is a proudly Wales-based company, with its headquarters located in Wrexham. This local connection perfectly aligns with Basketball Wales’ values and dedication to fostering homegrown talent and supporting Welsh businesses.
Alex Lovén, CEO of Net World Sports says: “This collaboration marks just the beginning of the FORZA Basketball journey, with more exciting developments on the horizon. We’re looking forward to setting new standards together as part of this innovative partnership that promises to revolutionise basketball in Wales. We are thrilled to be working with the team at Basketball Wales and we’re excited to see this partnership go from strength to strength over the years.”
Net World Sports also hopes that this pioneering partnership will set the standard for other organisations in the UK and beyond to follow, demonstrating the potential for future arrangements that can help further the sport.
You can see their current range of basketball equipment here.
Basketball Wales and NBN23 join forces to transform basketball through data
23 October 2023
Basketball Wales has agreed an initial three year partnership with NBN23 to provide digital scoresheets and statistics.
The start of the digital revolution in Wales will be in the Basketball Wales National League (BWNL). This season we will be introducing digital scoresheets in the all-Wales competition, and over the coming years this with be implemented in all local league competitions.
Over the next three years, Welsh basketball fans can enjoy the best technological experience thanks to NBN23 and its products: INGAME APP, the digital scoresheet that will be used during the games; and, SWISH, the application that brings together all the statistics and data of each game in real-time.
With the INGAME app, Wales will say goodbye to the traditional paper scoresheet, as everything will be quickly and easily recorded and saved digitally. No more crossing out, wasting paper or fear of losing data!
The Swish app will offer all the information you need to keep up to date with the BWNL competition.With it, you can stay informed with: results; experience some live statistics; stay informed about everything that happening in the competition.
You can download the Swish by NBN23 app for FREE from Google Play and the App Store.
Gavin Williams, Basketball Wales CEO said:
“Basketball Wales is pleased and excited to announce this partnership with NBN23. The digital transformation of our leagues in Wales over the next three years will offer our players, coaches, and fans the opportunity to obtaining live up to date statistical information such as points per game, minutes played and free throw percentages whilst being able to follow all games live via the SWISH app in real time!
Training on the INGAME APP has already taken place with the clubs participating in this year’s BWNL competition, and this will be rolled out to all clubs in Wales next season”.
This partnership will also help make our game more sustainable by eliminating the need for clubs to use traditional paper score sheets”.
James Morgans, Basketball Wales National League (BWNL) Director added:
“We are very excited to launch the NBN23 digital scoresheet in the BWNL this season. This will really help to advance our league and promote the clubs, players and coaches that perform week in week at the highest level of competition within Wales”.
Commenting on the new partnership, NBN23 CEO Miguel Bullón said:
“It’s a pleasure to count on a country with such a love for basketball, like Wales and its federation to be part of the most revolutionary project in the world. We are convinced that we will live the best experience on it”.
To experience a fully personalised experience and be able to follow all the exclusive content of the app, you can subscribe to the SWISH GOLD plan. In addition to following the entire competition, you can receive notifications, check real-time results, add favourite games to your calendar, obtain match comparisons, see the profiles of each team and their players, and follow the rankings.
About NBN23
NBN23 is the world-leading basketball digitalisation platform, offering real-time data, analytics, and insights to basketball teams, coaches, and fans. With their cutting-edge technology, they digitise the game for more efficient coaching, improved player performance, and engaging fan experience. Their ‘Swish All Hoops’ app provides accurate and up-to-date data on teams and players, empowering users with valuable information. NBN23 is revolutionising basketball through innovation and advancing the sport globally.
New lead for the U13 regional programme
8 September 2023
Basketball Wales has appointed former national team head coach Kojo Hazel to lead an expanded U13 regional programme.
A former Wales and Great Britain junior international, Kojo has extensive experience coaching both boys and girls for club and country.
He is currently a director and head coach at Tribal Basketball as well as a teacher of PE, IT and E-sports.
On his appointment, Kojo said: “I’m looking forward to the challenge of this new role and giving every young player, irrespective of their background, the chance to embark on their basketball journey.
“Through the new programme, I aim to create many opportunities for young talent across Wales, ensuring that the flame of basketball burns bright in every corner.”
The intention is to establish a network of U13 hubs across the country over time.
Planning has already begun and Basketball Wales is encouraging coaches who can help build the programme to contact Kojo via email performance@basketball.wales
He will have the support of Performance Director Phil Gordos, Head of Boys Basketball Andy Leftley, Head of Girls Basketball Sarah Wagstaff and the rest of the newly-established Performance Panel.
Junior national team head coaches appointed
8 September 2023
Basketball Wales has completed the head coach recruitment for its junior national teams programme for the 2023/24 season.
U19 Boys: Nick O’Leary
U19 Girls: Pentxo Cervantes
U17 Boys: Ieuan Alex Jones
U16 Boys: Antonio Wilburn
U17 Girls: Sam Bell
U15 Boys: Will Twigg
U15 Girls: Caitlyn Riley
U14 Boys: Neil Davies
Some of the appointments are familiar names, but there are several new faces.
Sam Bell is Canterbury Kings head coach and a former assistant coach with England U16 Girls.
Will Twigg has an array of experience in both the UK and USA, working with the London Lions, Essex Rebels, Newvic College and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Neil Davies led the U13 boys south regional programme last season, while Pentxo Cervantes served as assistant coach to the U17 Girls
Ieuan Alex Jones will combine his U17 Boys role with his position as senior women’s team head coach.
“It was a very competitive process and I am looking forward to working with this group of coaches,” said Performance Director Phil Gordos. “Congratulations to the successful candidates.”
Performance Panel announced
1 August 2023
Basketball Wales is today announcing the formation of a Performance Panel to help run its national teams programme. The panel is made up of talented individuals who will provide the programme with the necessary skills and expertise to take significant steps forward.
Performance Director, Phil Gordos said: “It’s been a year since I came into the role and I have spent the past 12 months assessing what we do and seeking the opinions of a great many people.
“A key objective has been to identify like-minded individuals to help me move the performance programme forward. One of the initial tasks for the panel will be to put the finishing touches to a performance strategy that will set out key targets for the next 18 to 24 months.
“The strategy is ambitious but it needs to be to push Wales forward,” said Gordos. “We have many objectives that we want to fulfil, on and off the court.”
The panel will also create:
- a robust competitions schedule for all age group teams
- a comprehensive player database
- a player education programme coach development programme
- a sports science programme to advise on strength and conditioning, injury rehabilitation, nutrition and hydration
- a comprehensive support system for team managers
Phil Gordos went on to say: “The knowledge of the panel members is significant and will only benefit the national teams programme, I am looking forward to working with everyone.
“We will also be looking to add further roles and responsibilities in the coming weeks. I am particularly focused on establishing a 3X3 performance programme and enhancing the U13 regional programme, so we will need to recruit individuals to oversee both.
Phil added: “A key addition to the panel is Dan Farmer, who will cement the strong relationship Basketball Wales has formed with Sport Wales. We will also benefit from Dan’s knowledge and understanding of high-performance sport.”
Meet the new Performance Panel
Head of Performance: Phil Gordos
A former assistant editor with BBC Sport. Ran the Manchester Magic and Mystics basketball programme from 2017 to 2022. Also collaborates with colleagues in England and Scotland to facilitate the Great Britain junior programme (U16, U18 and U20).
Basketball Wales Board representative: Gavin Williams
Currently interim CEO of Basketball Wales. A professional basketball referee who regularly officiates in some of Europe’s biggest competitions, including FIBA tournaments and Euro League.
Sport Wales representative: Daniel Farmer
Performance advisor for Sport Wales. Has a wealth of experience in high performance sport as an athlete, coach, team manager, head of delegation and advisor. Head coach and founder of RÁS, which provides bespoke and endurance coaching services for athletes.
Head of girls basketball (U14 to U19): Sarah Wagstaff
Director of Basketball at Cardiff Met Archers and a former Cardiff Met Archers WBBL player. Also represented Wales in FIBA competition. Has occupied a variety of roles within basketball. Coaches within the Cardiff Met Archers programme and mentors other coaches.
Head of boys basketball (U14 to U19): Andy Leftley
Coached Wales U18M to gold at the FIBA European Championships Div C in 2011. Holds a FIBA European Coaching Certificate. A PE teacher, he runs Vale Vipers Basketball Club and was a key figure at Cardiff Celts Basketball Academy. Understands challenges facing club and national teams.
Ethics and Integrity: Lucy Witt
Has occupied a wealth of roles across all levels of basketball. A former Basketball Wales performance director who was team manager for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics. A Senior Lecturer in Sport, PE and Health, Director and Founder of Cardiff Met Archers and co-chair of Women in Sports Coaching Network.
Sports Science: Ryan Chambers
Head of Sports Science for the Welsh Rugby Union, supporting the Wales national team in international competition, including the Six Nations and forthcoming World Cup. Skilled in Injury Prevention, Exercise Physiology, and Strength & Conditioning. Also involved with Cougars Basketball Club.
Coaching: Vicky Gottwald
A Level 4 basketball coach, Vicky has coached within the national team programme. A skill acquisition researcher and member of the Institute of Psychology for Elite Performance at Bangor University and is the Talent Identification and Transfer Lead for the Welsh Institute for Performance Science.
Media: Nia Wyn Thomas
Currently Sky Sports Senior Producer for the Women’s Super League and Scottish Women’s Premier League. Possesses 20 years’ experience working for Sky Sports, BBC, IMG, Channel 5 News, and ITV. Brings astute leadership and brand awareness. Also a fluent Welsh speaker.
Competitions: Danielle Brown
Helps Basketball Wales run some of its big events and has served as a team manager. A former Squash Wales employee, helping the NGB stage European tournaments in Cardiff, organise away trips and awards ceremonies. Currently helps businesses manage events, conferences and training.
Team Managers: Rachael Symons
A Basketball Wales team manager with FIBA tournament experience. Currently advises other team managers. Works in education as a teacher and has organised and supervised many residential trips abroad for students. Also facilitates a range of networks supporting colleagues from 22 schools (primary and secondary).
Player Tracking: Duncan Mackenzie
A FIBA qualified and licensed statistician. Also a Level 3 qualified referee who recently officiated in the recent tournament in Gibraltar, which featured the Wales men’s and women’s teams. Has also provided comprehensive stats for the teams competing at the U18 Four Nations.
Wales internationals head to Combine Academy
3 July 2023
The following athletes from the U17 and U19 national team squads have been selected by their head coaches to attend Combine Academy in the USA on a month long scholarship. Congratulations to you all from everyone at Basketball Wales.
Zachary Page (Sheffield Sharks)
U17 point guard and team captain Zachary Page has been an exemplary leader on and off the court this season. No one is more passionate about representing Wales than him. Zac is an absolute joy to coach. He listens and absorbs everything you teach him and incorporates it into his game. Because of this, I know he will take full advantage of the opportunity to train at the Combine Academy this summer. Zac dreams of earning a scholarship to play college basketball in the United States, and so long as he continues to work harder than everyone else, this is a realistic goal for him.
Trystan MacIver (Vales Vipers and Cardiff and Vale College)
Trystan has represented Wales at every age group from U12s to U17s and has fully committed to the national team during that time. Trystan is a dynamic and versatile player who can score and defend. He is a fierce competitor and someone you can rely on to make clutch plays when the game is on the line. Trystan had a standout performance at this year’s Four Nations Tournament where he helped lead Wales to victory over Scotland. Having the opportunity to play against quicker and stronger players on the AAU circuit in the United States will help prepare him for the next stage of his basketball career.
U17 Head Coach Jamie Smith said, “Both Zac and Trystan are not only talented players with the potential to play at the next level, but young men who are outstanding teammates, highly coachable, committed to the national team, and who serve as inspirational role models for the younger players in the generations below.”
Owen Merriman (Derby Trailblazers)
Lucas Davies (Derby Trailblazers)
Head Coach Nick O’Leary and the U19 men’s staff are delighted that Lucas and Owen are able to take advantage of this inspiring opportunity.
Both players are fully committed to their high-performance club and the Wales National Programme. Not only do they work extremely hard in improving their technical and tactical knowledge and understanding, they are able to balance other life responsibilities such as academic study.
Lucas and Owen demonstrate humility making them highly coachable. They have amiable personalities and are able to mix effectively with staff and teammates. They also exhibit valuable leadership traits. In short, they have the potential to play at a very high standard.
Wales U16 men’s United World Games squad announced
23 June 2023
Wales U16 Men’s National Team head coach Jamie Smith has selected a squad of 20 players to represent Wales at the United World Games. The squad has been split into two competitive 10-player teams, the Wales Black Dragons and the Wales Red Dragons. Smith will coach the Red Dragons while Wales U16 Assistant Coach, Alister Jennings, will coach the Black Dragons.
The United World Games is an Olympic style international multi-sporting event. Over 10,000 athletes from over 40 nations around the world will compete in 16 different sports at this summer’s games. The events are hosted by 30 venues across Klagenfurt, Austria with the opening ceremony taking place in Euro 2008’s Wörthersee Stadium.
Speaking on the selection, U16 Men’s National Team Head Coach Jamie Smith said:
“I would like to congratulate the 20 players who have been selected to represent Wales at the United World Games. This will be a once in a lifetime experience for our players. Not only will they get to compete on the world stage in basketball, but the United World Games provides a unique opportunity for cultural exchange with other young people from around the world during the many social events that run alongside the tournament.”
Zachary Page (Sheffield Sharks) and Paddy Whitestone (Vale Vipers) have been named captains for their respective teams.
Ronnie Thomas-Armstrong (Richmond Knights) and Dashawn Edbrooke (Cardiff Met Archers) will pull on the Wales jersey for the first time in international competition, while Miller Longhurst (Bristol Flyers) is called up to the U16s following a standout performance at the U14 Tri-Nations tournament in Dundee last month.
Caelan Carson-Jones (Swansea Storm), Finn Griffiths (Cardiff Met Archers) Brooklyn Jacobs (Pontypridd Panthers), Felix Hiemstra (Cynfig Cougars) Eddie Miners-Beeharry (Bedford Thunder) Curtis Walters (Cardiff Met Archers) return to international competition for the first time since earning a pair of victories against Scotland in last year’s International Test Series in Dundee.
Ten players named to the squad featured in April’s U16 Four Nations Tournament: Onanefe Atufe (Vale Vipers), Luca Basini-James (Vale Vipers), Jarom Howlett (Cheltenham Chargers), Charlie Johns (Birmingham Bears), Joseph Jennings (Vale Vipers), Sam Lewis-Babb (Cardiff Met Archers), Joseph Moreau (Vale Vipers), Panos Nikolaidis (Cardiff Met Archers), Elias Norman (Derby Trailblazers), and Zachary Page (Sheffield Sharks).
The United World Games takes place in Klagenfurt, Austria from Friday 23 June 23 to Sunday 25 June.
Further information on the United World Games including fixtures and results can be found on: https://unitedworldgames.com. All of the games will be streamed live via https://solidsport.com/united-world-games.
Wales men and women head to Gibraltar for a four team tournament
9 May 2023
Our senior men and women are heading to Gibraltar this summer to compete in a new four-team international tournament.
As well as hosts Gibraltar, Wales will face Andorra during the three-day round robin event, which runs from 7 to 9 July 2023. The complete line-up will be confirmed very soon.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our senior programmes and will give our players the challenges they desperately need,” said Basketball Wales Performance Director Phil Gordos.
“A lot of work is going on behind the scenes and I want to praise the coaches and support staff who have helped to make this tournament happen.
“I also want to thank John Gonçalves and Gibraltar Basketball for hosting the event.
“We hope there will be annual opportunities like this for our senior players, targeting the summer months so we can attract our best players to the programme.”
Wales squads, the final line up and tournament schedule will be announced by the end of June.
Sponsorship opportunities
We don’t receive any funding for our national teams, the cost of attending tournaments is covered by players and through fundraising.
We’re looking for sponsors to support both teams going to Gibraltar.
If your organisation is interested in sponsoring our senior national teams please contact commercial@basketball.wales to discuss opportunities and ask for a sponsorship package.
Basketball Wales announces Gavin Williams as Interim CEO
24 April 2023
Basketball Wales is pleased to announce the appointment of Gavin Williams as our new interim CEO for the next 12-month period.
The appointment of Gavin as Basketball Wales’s first full-time member of staff in over 12 years comes at a crucial time where the sport is looking to make significant strides in its growth and to capitalise on the very positive data received from the latest school sport survey.
The role of CEO is one that Gavin has been carrying out in a voluntary capacity in recent years but now as a full-time member of staff he will have the additional time and capacity needed to work with our key partners, including Sport Wales to take the governing body to the next stage in its development.
Working closely with Sport Wales over the last 12-month period the board of directors along with Helen Pearce our part time administrator has managed to double our grant funding investment for the next financial year as we look to continue the growth of the sport.
Speaking on the new appointment, Basketball Wales board director Ben Whitestone said:
“It’s great that Basketball Wales have been able to appoint a full-time member of staff, Gavin has a great deal of experience in the role already and his passion and enthusiasm for growing the game in Wales will help drive the sport forward in a positive direction, there are exciting times ahaead for basketball in Wales”
Speaking on his appointment as Interim CEO Gavin Williams said:
“I’d like to thank the board of directors for giving me the opportunity to take on this exciting new role. Over the next 12-month period I’m looking forward to working with and strengthening our relationships with key partners, clubs, and the membership to help drive the growth of the sport in Wales. The most recent school sport survey carried out by Sport Wales shows that there is a huge unmet demand by young people who are looking to try out the sport of basketball. One of my key priorities will be to work with the board and our new chair to develop a strategy and a vision that will allow us to maximise the funding that can be made available and to get more people playing basketball in Wales”
Our new CEO will be recording a podcast later this month which will be available on our official YouTube channel. Make sure subscribe to get all the latest videos, podcasts and live streams of our upcoming Basketball Wales events.
You can also follow and contact our new CEO on Twitter @WalesCEO, Instagram @basketballwalesceo or by email ceo@basketball.wales
Wales women’s programme relaunched
13 April 2023
Basketball Wales is excited to announce that it’s officially relaunching its women’s senior programme, with plans to take part in an international tournament this summer.
New head coach Ieuan Alex Jones will be holding a number of training and evaluation sessions in the coming weeks.
“We’re excited to kick-start the women’s programme and will be confirming our summer calendar in the next few weeks,” said Basketball Wales Performance Director Phil Gordos.
“We’re determined to build a comprehensive pathway for our most talented players and the women’s team is an integral part of that.”
Head coach Ieuan Alex Jones said: “I am very excited to get on court with a talented group of players and to relaunch the senior women’s programme.
“We are looking forward to offering a good training schedule and building toward competitive games against international competition.”
Basketball Wales is inviting players to contact Ieuan to register their interest and to find out more about the summer plans.
Please complete this form: https://forms.gle/UrvbccbAQmsRhehZ9
Session dates and times
- Saturday 3 June: 12:00pm – 1:30pm and 3:00pm – 4:30pm
- Sunday 4 June: 10.00am -11.30am and 1.00pm – 2.30pm
- Saturday 10 June and Sunday 11 June: 10.00am – 11.30am and 1.00am – 2.30pm on both days
- Saturday 17 June and Sunday 18 June: 10.00am – 11.30am and 1.00pm – 2.30pm on both days
- Saturday 24 June: 12.00 – 1.30pm and 3.00pm – 4.30pm
- Sunday 25 June: 10.00am – 11:30am and 1.00am – 2.30pm
All sessions will be held at Cardiff City House of Sport, Clos Parc Morgannwg, Cardiff CF11 8AW.
Eligibility
- Born in Wales
- Parent(s) or Granparent(s) born in Wales
- 3 years residency
Instant Reply System trial at U18 Four Nations
12 April 2023
Basketball Wales is pleased to announce it will be trailing the use of Instant Replay System (IRS) at this week’s U18 Four Nations tournament in Cardiff.
Building on the success of last year’s event which including the introduction of the Digital Score Sheet (DSS) for table officials this year additional support will be provided to the match referees who will be able to use video replay to verify decisions in the following circumstances:
- Unsportsmanlike fouls
- Out of bounds in the last 2 minutes
- Identifying the correct free-throw shooter
- Acts of violence or potential acts of violence
Speaking about this exciting introduction to this weeks tournament Basketball Wales CEO Gavin Williams said:
“The Four Nations tournaments provide great opportunities for our talented home country players to showcase their skills and abilities but we also want to use these high profile events to continue to work to improve the level of officiating within British Basketball.
“This will be the first time the use of IRS technology will be used within GB, albeit a slightly scaled down version and we are excited to see how this trial goes with this group of referees”
Basketball Wales announces new Independent Chair
6 April 2023
Basketball Wales is delighted to announce the appointment of Garmon Rhys as the new Independent Chair of the national governing body.
Garmon takes over from Keith Mair who stood down in November 2022 after six years at the helm. Keith led the board through a period in which the sport in Wales has grown from strength to strength. He also guided Basketball Wales through the difficult years of the COVID-19 pandemic, while being in lockdown in New Zealand.
Originally from Aberystwyth, Garmon studied Law at Cardiff University and continues to live in the capital with his family. He works for the BBC as a Senior Project Director in the Nations division. He was previously Head of News for BBC Wales, responsible for leading and developing news and current affairs content across Online, TV and Radio.
During his career, Garmon has had experience of developing strategy and implementing change and previously led Strategy and Policy for BBC Wales. He looks forward to drawing on this experience to support the growth of basketball and its governing body in Wales.
Speaking of his appointment, Garmon said:
“Basketball is one the most popular participation sports in Wales but there is room for further growth across our diverse communities. We know that thousands of children would love to play more basketball, but they aren’t getting the opportunities to do so.
“I look forward to working with the board and our partners to get more people playing, create better spaces and opportunities to play, and ensure that our talented players can reach their full potential.”
Gavin Williams, CEO of Basketball Wales said:
“Basketball Wales is thrilled to announce the appointment of our new Independent Chair. Garmon joins us at a time where the sport is seeing a major increase in popularity amongst young people and there is a huge unmet demand which we will be looking to meet with Welsh schools.
“Garmon’s professional experience from his work within the BBC and his strategic knowledge will play a pivotal role over the next 4 years as we look to develop and launch our new strategy that will be linked to significant increases in funding from Sport Wales.”
Garmon will take up his new role on 6 April 2023.
Basketball Wales completes UK Anti-Doping Assurance Framework
28 March 2023
Basketball Wales is delighted to announce its completion of the Assurance Framework, which National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must fulfil to certify to UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) that they are meeting their anti-doping responsibilities.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published the updated 2021 UK National Anti-Doping Policy (Policy) in April 2021, which all NGBs must be compliant with. This was the first update of the Policy since its implementation in 2009.
UKAD, which is responsible for ensuring that sports bodies comply with the World Anti-Doping Code through its implementation and management of the Policy, introduced the Assurance Framework for NGBs to be able to evidence their compliance with the Policy.
The introduction of the Assurance Framework is the most significant change in the Policy. It outlines a series of mandatory requirements which all NGBs must fulfil. These requirements include the creation of an education strategy and plan, the implementation of anti-doping rules and increased involvement of an NGB’s Board with clean sport.
Upon completion of the Assurance Framework Phil Gordos, Basketball Wales Performance Director and anti-doping lead said:
“Work has already begun to create a comprehensive anti-doping education programme. This will form an integral part of the new Basketball Wales Performance Strategy, which will be implemented in the summer of 2023.
“Our anti-doping programme will initially focus on national team players, coaches and support personnel
because of its limited resources and heavy reliance on volunteers. The intention will be to deliver this
programme prior to the start of each new season and then follow this up with a refresher session prior to
the start of international competition”.
UKAD’s Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Nisha Dutt, said: “I’d like to congratulate basketball Wales for completing the UKAD Assurance Framework, which demonstrates a commitment to clean sport. [Insert NGB name] can now fully show that it is meeting its anti-doping responsibilities.”
For more information on the Policy and Assurance Framework, visit the UKAD website.
About UK Anti-Doping
UK Anti-Doping is responsible for ensuring sports bodies in the UK are compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code through implementation and management of the UK National Anti-Doping Policy.
UK Anti-Doping’s functions include an education and information programme, athlete testing across more than 40 Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports, intelligence management and exclusive results management authority for the determination of anti-doping rule violations.
Keith Mair steps down as Chair of Basketball Wales
16 January 2023
Basketball Wales Chair Keith Mair has formally stepped down from his role after six years in charge of the National Governing Body after chairing his final board meeting in November 2022 and the board now seek to appoint a new Independent Chair.
During his tenure with Basketball Wales Keith has work tremendously hard in a volunteer capacity to oversee a period in which the sport in Wales has grown from strength to strength with an increase in both clubs and members as well and helping to build key relationships with stakeholders such as Sport Wales and the British Basketball Federation.
Keith’s reputation within the British basketball community is highly regarding having spent many years as the CEO of Basketball England and then as a board director of the British Basketball Federation. Prior to arriving in the UK, Keith was the head coach of the New Zealand men’s national team and guided them to the 2000 Olympic games in Sydney, the first time the Tall Blacks had qualified for the Olympic basketball competition.
In the 2015 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Keith was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to basketball.
Commenting on the departure of Keith Mair, Basketball Wales Voluntary CEO, Gavin Williams said:
“As a board we were saddened to hear that Keith would be stepping down. He has been a great Chair and has provided the board with expert key guidance and support over the past six years. So many new and exciting initiatives have developed under Keith’s tenure including the Wales Jr.NBA programme, 3X3 Summer Tour, Four Nations events, the Basketball Wales National League and the continued development of our secondary schools tournament. Keith has always been very passionate about schools’ basketball, from the first day he stepped into his role. He strongly believes that the more basketball is played in our schools either recreational or competitively the stronger our sport will be in years to come.
On a personal level Keith has been a great mentor to me helping me to take on the challenge of being the volunteer CEO, during the COVID-19 pandemic Keith and I would regular communicate via Zoom and WhatsApp often at very strange times – late evening or early mornings as Keith was in lockdown back in New Zealand and couldn’t return home to Wrexham.
Keith has now travelled back home to New Zealand permanently and the board and I wish him all the best for his future endeavours and thank him for the last six years he has been with us. I’m sure he will be keeping a very close eye on how basketball in Wales progresses during this new and very exciting period.”
The search begins for a new Chair
Basketball Wales is looking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced independent chair who has the key skills and attributes to guide us through a very exciting time for the sport in Wales.
The School Sport Survey conducted by Sport Wales in 2022 has shown that basketball is a sport that is in high demand by pupils across Wales.
155,585 said they had participated in basketball in the 2022 school year and over 40,000 of these pupils surveyed say they would love to play more basketball but can’t because of lack of opportunity, facilities or clubs.
The result of this School Sport Survey means that Basketball Wales is in line for a significant funding increase over the next 4 years and we are now looking for the ideal person to lead us forward and to help grow the sport across all regions of the country.
Interested candidates should download the job description and person specification and submit applications by 23.59 on Friday 24 February 2023.
Coaching line up finalised
8 September 2022
Basketball Wales has now finalised its junior national team head coaches for the 2022/23 season.
The following have been tasked with leading six national squads:
- U15 girls – Caitlyn Riley
- U15 boys – Antonio Wilburn
- U17 girls – Emiliano Rey
- U17 boys – Jamie Smith
- U19/20 women – Azeb Smalley
- U19 men – Nick O’Leary
Caitlyn and Emiliano are the latest additions and become head coaches for the first time with Wales.
A basketball scholar at Nottingham Trent University, Caitlyn has served as a national team assistant coach with Wales U16 girls in the past and is currently a club coach with Nottingham Wildcats.
From Spain, Emiliano is now coaching at Reading Rockets after spells at Glasgow University and Sussex Storm.
Commenting on the new appointments, Phil Gordos, Performance Director for Basketball Wales said:
“Caitlyn and Emiliano are great additions to our coaching staff, and I am looking forward to working with them both. They are hugely enthusiastic and determined to make an impact. They bring a lot of positivity to the performance programme.”
Trials for the junior national teams take place on 17,18 and 25 September. Find all the details on how to register, age groups and eligibility on our trials page.
New Performance Director ahead of new season
10 August 2022
With a new season on the horizon, Basketball Wales is delighted to announce that Phil Gordos will be joining the Board of Directors as Performance Director.
Phil has years of experience of elite basketball, leading the Manchester Magic and Manchester Mystics junior programmes for the past five and a half years.
He will take up his post immediately and start working with the national teams in readiness for the start of the 2022/23 season.
Commenting on his new role Phil said:
“I cannot wait to get going because there is huge potential in Wales. I’m looking forward to engaging with as many clubs, coaches, and players as possible in a bid to harness the best that the country has to offer.
“There is plenty of work to do but I’m confident we can make giant strides if we work together for the good of the game in Wales.”
Phil spent almost 17 years working for the BBC, covering some of the biggest sporting events in the world before moving to Manchester Magic and Mystics. Here, he oversaw the club’s junior and senior elite programmes, its EABL and WEABL programmes as well as its flourishing community programme.
Gavin Williams, CEO, Basketball Wales said of the new appointment:
“Basketball Wales is pleased to welcome Phil to our dedicated team of volunteers. Phil brings a tremendous amount of experience of elite performance basketball having run one the UKs best talent programmes at Manchester Magic over several years.
“As part of his new role Phil will be reaching out to members of the Basketball Wales community to look for volunteers to join him on a new Performance Working Group. The group will lead on all aspects of national team strategy as we aim to further develop our talented Welsh players with the goal of getting more players into the GB youth teams.”
Gavin went on to say:
“On behalf of the board, national team coaches and players, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to Simon Fisher for all his work as Director of National Teams. We wish Simon every success with British Wheelchair Basketball, and all his other basketball endeavours.”
Basketball Wales is pleased to announce the formation of a working group to investigate the viability of a BBL franchise based in Wales
Gavin Williams, CEO Basketball Wales:
“From the outset Basketball Wales made it a priority to ensure that the possibility of a professional franchise in Wales was not only fully explored, but this process would be undertaken impartially. We were blown away by the calibre of applicants for a volunteer working group, and are confident that the working group we have assembled is over qualified to do just that. Now that we have appointed the group, we look forward to hearing the updates and reports.”
Former Senior Men’s Captain Jordan Seeley has been appointed to lead the group and he had this to say:
“Like many of our young players I moved away from home at 16 to pursue a pathway in Basketball that unfortunately doesn’t exist in Wales. When it became clear that we had a realistic opportunity to create a pathway that could lead to no young Welsh player being forced to make that decision in the future, I felt obliged to offer as much of my time as needed to make that happen.
We have put together a really strong group with the intention of first investigating whether it is commercially viable to build a long-term sustainable franchise in Wales, fingers crossed the answer is yes and we can pull the community together to build a better future for basketball in Wales.”
The Working Group consists of:
Derrick Izilein
Derrick was born in London and played basketball at the United States International University and later professionally in a number of European countries. He is currently involved in web development and internet marketing strategies.
Garmon Rhys
Garmon has worked as a journalist in Wales for two decades and was appointed Head of News for BBC Wales in 2017. He previously led Strategy and Policy for BBC Wales and is currently a Project Director on attachment to BBC Nations.
Jamie Ryan
Jamie is a Cost Estimator for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water’s Capital Delivery Alliance who analyses project business plans and develops cost plans as part of a £2.3 billion capital investment programme. He has been involved in Welsh Basketball as a player, table official and coach over the last 18 years.
Jordan Seeley
Jordan is a former Senior Men’s captain who works as a self-employed Business Strategy Consultant, where he helps large businesses identify commercial opportunities and build strategies for how to make the most of them.
Kate Gordos
Basketball Wales voluntary commercial director. Finance, admin and marketing manager. Business co-owner and Trustee of charity supporting girls education and sport.
Neil Wilkie
Former Wales Youth Captain and U19 team manager. Retired Associate Director in finance and pensions sector having worked for Prudential, Aviva and Chase De Vere and start-ups in the fintech sector
Paul Bellamy
Paul is CEO of Sidetrack and has promoted The FIM British Speedway Grand Prix at the Principality Stadium for 19 years, where they have been the stadiums longest serving tenant after the WRU. He was previously Global Head of Motorsports for IMG; promoting races across 5 continents including 2 World Championships.
You can stay up-to-date with developments from the BBL in Wales Working Group by following the process on Facebook and/or LinkedIn
Welsh veteran players help GB Maxibasketballers strike gold and silver at the European Championship 2022 in Malaga
14 July 2022
What a fantastic ten days for the eight GB Maxibasketball national teams at the XI FIMBA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP MALAGA 2022, as former Welsh national and international level players played an integral part in the five medal championship medal haul!
Sarah Wagstaff (W35+), Daniel Michaelson-Yeates (M35+), Alan Duppa (M40+), Ruth Thomas (W45+), Keith Kelly (M45+) and Jon Bunyan (M50+) began their preparation for the Europeans in April 2021 following easing of the Covid pandemic restrictions in the UK. Their hard work certainly paid dividends with five of the eight GB teams securing Championship medals, including Britain’s first ever gold and silver European Maxibasketball medals.
Sarah Wagstaff was a member of GB Womens’ 35+ Maxiballers, who led the medal charge from start to finish. With six wins from six games, they defeated Estonia (64-44) in the final game to claim the GOLD medal and the European Maxibasketball Championship 2022 crown last weekend in Malaga. Adding to Sarah’s 9 points, there were remarkable performances from GB Maxis 35+ co-captains Sarah Cooney (20pts) and NBL Div 2 Play-off MVP Lisa Riches (14pts). WBBL All-Star Five Sheffield Hatter Helen Naylor put in a strong performance with 11pts.
The Women’s 35+ Coach Butler of Tees Valley Mohawks said:
“Words can’t describe how I feel right now. My team was amazing and put on a show the whole tournament and brought the gold back to the UK. The first Gold ever.. how mad is that?
I’m just on a massive high right now and would like to thank everyone who watched and supported me and the players throughout the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Daniel Michaelson-Yeates, a late selection to the GB Maxis Men’s 35+ squad, bagged himself a SILVER medal. The team, led by Loughborough-based Head Coach Liam Jefferson, took on top-seeded Spanish ACB outfit Unicaja Malaga in the final game. Working against an aggressive defense, GB Maxis M35’s came up short and finished runners up, bringing home Great Britain’s first European Championship silver!
Speaking of the final game loss, Coach Jefferson said:
“Whilst it stings right now, a European silver medal is an unbelievable achievement and I couldn’t be prouder of this group and what they have achieved!”
After three emotionally exhausting semi-final games on Day 8, the GB Maxis Men’s 40+ (featuring Alan Duppa), Women’s 45+ (Cardiff Met Archers Ruth Thomas) and Women’s 50+ teams had to pick themselves up to compete in bronze medal games. However, they eventually fell to sustainably stronger opposition from Spain (M40s & W45s) and Germany (W50s) on Day 9 of the competition. Despite the losses, both Alan Duppa and Ruth Thomas have proudly returned to having been awarded 4th place European Championship Iron medals, in recognition of some high quality performances against European powerhouse nations such as Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland and Spain over the course of the 10 days.
Meanwhile, former Welsh international Keith Kelly (M45+) and Jon Bunyan (M50+) had very tough tournaments, coming up against the likes of Serbia, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Switzerland. Their teams finished 13th and 9th respectively.
GB Maxis Programme Director, Sadie Mason MBE and Training Camp Coordinator, Emma Parslow, said:
“We couldn’t be prouder of everyone’s efforts. We can truly see the fruits of months of planning and preparation, and we are really pleased for (and appreciate) the programme leads, coaches, managers and sports science staff that have helped us achieve these fabulous European Championship performances. We set out to achieve top six placings in Europe and 6/8 teams achieved this.”
The GB Maxibasketball programme is now looking ahead to the FIMBA World Championship 2023. The host nation is yet to be announced, but Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the 2022/23 programme are already open for male and female players 35+, 40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+ to Coaches, Team Managers and Performance Support Staff are also welcome to apply. The link to the EOI form for all new and returning participants is here.
Camps start in August, check the GB Maxibasketball website for further details.
GB junior teams long list announced
Four groups of players have been invited to Great Britain camps ahead of this summer’s FIBA European Youth Championships.
The Championships will see more than 250 teams play across 16 tournaments, three age categories and three divisions – with GB competing in Division B of the U16 men’s, and U16 and U18 women’s competitions, and in the top division of the U18 men’s tournament.
The British Basketball Federation and home country basketball associations appointed coaches and staff last month.
Before the final 12-player rosters are confirmed, four groups of 16 players will attend orientation camps at the University of Essex (male) and Myerscough College (female) on 2 and 3 July.
Coaches will assess the invited players before selecting their final squads.
Sam Messam, Basketball England Talent Programme and Pathway Manager, said:
“Everyone involved is really looking forward to the preparation phase, and ultimately to challenging to remain in Division A or pursue promotion to Division A. Through the GB Youth Performance Group, which is made up Basketball Scotland, Basketball Wales, Basketball England, and representatives from the British Basketball Federation, we have been able to put together a preparation programme for each team.
“It is going to be a very busy summer for our talented young players, but we are confident that all of the GB coaching and support staff will be there to support and guide them to success.”
Azeb Smalley, Wales U18 women’s Head Coach said:
“Congratulations to both Issy and Carys for making the long squad. I’m so proud of the young women they have become and continue to represent Welsh basketball with pride. Their performances at the Four Nations were outstanding. They continue to show us that this is just the beginning. A true inspiration to the next generation.
“They have a bright future ahead of them. Good luck to our Welsh Dragons.“
U16 Women
Brooke Beveridge, Ayr Storm
Elizandra Costa, Manchester Mystics
Natasha Cameron-Barr, City of Edinburgh
Katie Cox, Richmond Knights
Maisie Crowley, Brentwood Fire
Adaora Dioramma, Haringey Angels
Ayla Habbal, Haringey Angels
Felicia Jacobs-Abiola, Richmond Knights
Maisie Keyes, Manchester Mystics
Esther Kursite-Kobri, Haringey Angels
Alix McIntosh, Ayr Storm
Irene Oboavwoduo, Manchester Mystics
Zoe Sharpe, Caledonia Pride
Megan Verbeeten, Sussex Storm
Charley Woodman, Bristol Flyers
Alice Woodward, Nottingham Wildcats
Head Coach – Donnie MacDonald
Assistant Coach – Renee Busch
Assistant Coach – Darryl Wood
Team Manager – Hannah Shaw
Physio – Sarah Hattee
S&C Coach – Dan Cruse
U16 Men
Emmanuel Adeniyi, London United
Kofi Asare, Saint James School, USA
Ethan Conway, Richmond Knights
Derelle Desire, London Greenhouse Pioneers
Harry Godwin, Richmond Knights
Joshua Johnson-Thompson, Brentwood Fire
Moziah King-Danchie, London Legends
Aymen Kraria, Glasgow Rens
Luca Lara-Sanchez, Manchester Magic
Jacob Marschall, Cambridge Cats
Timothy Oboh, Kent Crusaders
Elijah Omar, Brixton Topcats
Sampson Onuoha, Belmont Hill School, USA
Marcus Robinson, Miramonte High School, USA
Tejan Rugette, Richmond Knights
Robbie Wild, Manchester Magic
Head Coach – Troy Culley
Assistant Coach – Jamie Smith
Assistant Coach – Dan Petts
Team Manager – Gavin Naylor
Physio – Elliott Cockrell
S&C Coach – Joe Gurley
U18 Women
Isobel Bunyan, Cardiff Met Archers
Natalie Charity, Nottingham Wildcats
Leia Edwards, Sierra Canyon HS, USA
Olivia Forster, Ipswich
Louisa Gibbins, Bristol Flyers
Hannah Gray, Ipswich
Fatmata Janneh, Barking Abbey
Katie Januszweska, Leicester Riders
Chinadindu Kpalobi, Barking Abbey
Clementina Odom, Barking Abbey
Erin Powell, Leicester Riders
Carys Roy, Cardiff Met Archers
Tunmise Salu, Leicester Riders
Violet Stutz, CoLA
Grace Strickland, Barking Abbey
Charli Wroe, Manchester Mystics
Head Coach – Kenrick Liburd
Assistant Coach – Karen Burton
Assistant Coach – Lauren Milligan
Team Manager – Paula Charity
Physio – Dave Hall
S&C Coach – Jon Fortesque
U18 Men
Dara Adeyemi Queen Ethelburgas, York Knights
Michael Amako, Barking Abbey
Benjamin Brown, Manchester Magic
Joseph Buchanan, Barking Abbey
Lane Campbell, Leicester Riders
Nedas Cholevinskas, Baltic Stars
Latrell Davis, First Baptist Academy, USA
Matthew Goodwin, Manchester Magic
Ross Grant, Grampian Flyers
Daniel Hadley, Leicester Riders
Benjamin Michaels, Ipswich
Maximus Mkpa, Menaul School, USA
Marcus-Myen King-Danchie, Florida Coastal Prep, USA
Isaac Round, Reading Rockets
Enoch Wangoy, Manchester Magic
Zamoku Weluche-Ume, Barking Abbey
Head Coach – Craig Nicol
Assistant Coach – Will Maynard
Assistant Coach – Dan Gayle
Team Manager – Damien Plumer
Physio – Aynk Vigneswaran
S&C Coach – Chris Wanford
The GB U16 and U18 teams are supported financially and logistically by Basketball England, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales.
Competition schedule
U18 Men, 30 July – 7 August 2022
GB U18 Men will be competing in the European Championships’ top division in Turkey, taking on France, North Macedonia and Israel in Group A.
U18 Women, 30 July – 7 August 2022
GB U18 Women will face Croatia, Portugal, Luxembourg and North Macedonia in Group A of Division B in Bulgaria.
U16 Men, 11 – 20 August 2022
GB U16 Men will head to Bulgaria to face Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Portugal and Norway in Group C of Division B.
U16 Women, 18 – 27 August 2022
GB’s U16 Women will face Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Luxembourg and Austria in Group D of Division B in in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Wales U15 Boys’ squad selected for Scotland International test series
23 May 2022
Wales U15 Boys’ National Team head coach Jamie Smith has selected a squad of 17 players to represent Wales in international test matches against Scotland U15s on 27 and 28 May 2022. The team will also face Scotland’s U16 “B” team on 29 May 2022. The games are being hosted by Basketball Scotland at the Regional Performance Centre in Dundee, the same venue that hosted the recent U16 Four Nations and U14 Tri-Nations Tournaments.
The squad includes three Cardiff Met Archers players (Finn Griffiths, Sam Lewis-Babb, and Curtis Walters), three Pontypridd Panthers players (Brooklyn Jacobs, Jamaine Matewere, and Joshua O’Donnell), three Swansea Storm players (Caelan Carson-Jones, Panagliotis Nikolaidis, and Joshua Lomax), two Cougars players (Felix Hiemstra and Joseph Jennings), and two Vale Vipers players (Rhys Aclan and Luca Basini-James). Alex Hammel (Aberystwyth), Edward Miners-Beeharry (Bedford Thunder), Bodhi Biggs (Bristol Flyers), and Gavin Da Silva (Newport Aces) round out the seventeen-man squad.
Edward Miners-Beeharry and Felix Hiemstra have been named as captains for the weekend. Of the 17 boys selected, 16 will receive their first junior international caps. Joshua Lomax made his first international appearance playing up for the U16s at the Four Nations Tournament last month.
The Wales U15 Boys’ coaching staff will be led by head coach Jamie Smith (Oxford University). Smith who has 49 international caps as an assistant coach for the Great Britain Men’s National Team will earn his first junior cap as a head coach for Wales. Smith will be assisted by Alister Jennings (Cougars Basketball) and Deividas Matusevičius (Swansea Storm). Cassie Jennings (Cougars Basketball) will serve as team manager.
All three games will be live-streamed via Basketball Scotland’s Facebook page.
- 27 May at 7:00pm – Wales vs Scotland U15
- 28 May at 4:30pm – Wales vs Scotland U15
- 29 May at 10:00am – Wales vs Scotland U16 “B”
Wales U15 Boys
| Rhys Aclan | Vale Vipers |
| Luca Basini-James | Vale Vipers |
| Bodhi Biggs | Bristol Flyers |
| Caelan Carson-Jones | Swansea Storm |
| Gavin Da Silva | Newport Aces |
| Finn Griffiths | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Alex Hammel | Aberystwyth Basketball Club |
| Felix Hiemstra | Cougars Basketball |
| Brooklyn Jacobs | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Joseph Jennings | Cougars Basketball |
| Sam Lewis-Babb | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Joshua Lomax | Bristol Flyers / Swansea Storm |
| Jamaine Matewere | Pontypridd Panther |
| Edward Miners-Beeharry | Bedford Thunder |
| Panagliotis Nikolaidis | Swansea Storm |
| Joshua O’Donnell | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Curtis Walters | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Head Coach: Jamie Smith (Oxford University) Assistant Coach: Alister Jennings (Cougars Basketball) Assistant Coach: Deividas Matusevičius (Swansea Storm) Team Manager: Cassie Jennings (Cougars Basketball) |
Teams announced for the U14s Tri-Nations Tournamen-
12 May 2022
Wales will be joining Scotland and England at the Regional Performance Centre in Dundee this weekend (13-15 May 2022) to compete in the U14 Tri-Nations Tournament. The event follows on from the successful U18s tournament held in Cardiff before Easter and last weekend’s U16s tournament, also held in Dundee.
We will be sending two boys teams and one girls team. Congratulations to everyone selected to represent Wales at this tournament.
Basketball Wales is also be sending a team of officials to the tournament. They have all completed /or are on the Level 3 pathway in their respective disciplines:
- Sam Gilbert (Referee) – Cardiff Met Archers
- Emily Gilroy (Table Official) – Swansea Storm
- Beth Jones (Table Official) – Cardiff Met Archer
Wales U14 Boys
| Jack Bamborough | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Will Bamborough | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Ethan Benningwood | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Gerard Canete | Bristol Storm |
| Sam Davies | Newport Aces |
| Ethan Evans | Cougars Basketball |
| James Grant | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Will Griffin | Bromborough Bulldogs |
| Shae Hughes | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Gabriel Navarro | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Theo Pitt | Mersey Mavericks |
| Elray Ramos | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Rudi Ewart | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Osian Howells | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Idris O’Brien | Swansea Storm |
| Kristos Tesho | Swansea Storm |
| Jack Turner | Cougars Basketball |
| Noah West | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Austin Williams | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Ollie Williams | Tonyrefail Tigers |
| Ellis Williams | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Steffan Winrow | Caernarfon Celts |
| Head Coach – Antonio Wilburn |
I’m honoured to be the Head Coach of the U14 Welsh Boys National Team. It is always an amazing opportunity to represent your country and for these boys they are excited to show and represent Wales proudly. To have such a young hard-working talented group, I’m really excited to watch them compete on this stage
Antonio Wilburn, Head Coach Wales U14 Boys
Wales U14 Girls
| Eliya Duckers | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Maria Domagala | – |
| Florence Edwards | Oldcastle Tigers |
| Emily Fulford | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Maizie Holland | – |
| Olivia Lunn | Ynys Mon Celts |
| Nyah MacIver | Vale Vipers |
| Hannah Reid | – |
| Head Coach – Will Hopper |
This will be a huge test for this inexperienced group. Hopefully we can use this weekend as a measuring stick and see how much we’ve progressed in a few years time.
Will Hooper, Head Coach Wales U14 Girls
Wales send players to the Jr.NBA Global Championships Europe and Middle East Elite Camp
4 May 2022
Each year the Jr. NBA host its Global Championships, which is a youth basketball tournament for the top U14 boys and girls from around the world. The tournament, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, in August, features a boys and girls division, made up of 16 regional teams (eight US teams and eight international teams).
For the first time Basketball Wales has be able to send two players to represent Wales at the Global Championship Europe and Middle East Elite Camp following the inaugural Jr.NBA league taking place in Wales in 2022.
The camp is being held at Stella Azzurra in Rome, Italy from 4 to 7 May 2022.
Our congratulations go to Isaias Balde (Cathays High School, Cardiff) and Tamzin Matthews (Ysgol David Hughes, Porthaethwy, Anglesey).
They will joined by Fleur Gamal and Andrew Henderson representing Basketball Scotland, and brother and sister Neve and Tejan Rugette representing Basketball England.
The six youngsters will be among 60 boys and girls ages 13-14 years from 25 countries across Europe and the Middle East where Jr. NBA programs currently operate.
They will get the chance to work with former NBA and WNBA players and NBA Europe Ambassadors Anastasia Kostaki (Greece), Zaza Pachulia (Georgia), Vladimir Radmanović (Montenegro) and Ronny Turiaf (France) and former NBA head coach Ryan Saunders will also attend and coach the youth players.
Ryan Saunders will also lead an NBA Coaching Clinic for the Jr. NBA coaches and invited local coaches, representing Basketball Wales will be Elizabeth Birch-Hurst, a coach at Bryncelynnog Comprehensive.
About the Jr.NBA
The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.
This is the first year that Wales has had a Jr.NBA league. With schools from across Wales competing in two conferences. With the Finals being held on the 15 June 2022 at Aberystwyth University.
Our U16s head to Scotland this weekend to compete in the Four Nations Tournament
3 May 2022
Wales will be joining Scotland, England and Ireland at the Regional Performance Centre in Dundee this weekend (6-8 May 2022) to compete in the U16 Four Nations Tournament. The event follows on from the successful U18s tournament held in Cardiff before Easter.
Congratulations to everyone selected to represent Wales at this tournament.
The squad has been working immensely hard to prepare for the up-and-coming Four Nations Tournament. We are ready to represent Wales compete against the other nations this weekend.”
Rob Godber, Wales U16 Boys Head Coach
Wales U16 Boys
| Daniel Henchie-Jones | Aberystwyth Basketball Club |
| Harry Gordos | Manchester Magic |
| Jack Millar | Vale Vipers |
| Joseph Moreau | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Josh Lomax | Swansea Storm |
| Kai John | Cougars Basketball |
| Kyle Pesario | Swansea Storm |
| Lance Macaraig | Vale Vipers |
| Mason Holl | Pontypridd Panthers/Cardiff Met Archers |
| Paddy Whitestone | Vale Vipers |
| Trystan Maclver | Vale Vipers |
| Zachary Page | Sheffield Sharks |
| Head Coach – Rob Godber Assistant Coach – Thomas Hole Team Manager – Danielle Brown |
Wales U16 Girls
| Abigail Clifford | Tonyrefail Tigers |
| Anya Hicks | Tonyrefail Tigers |
| Brooke Leo | Daventry Swifts |
| Cerys Wright | Worcester Wolves |
| Chantal Sala | Ynys Mon Celts |
| Harriet Grant | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Isabella Tang | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Lily Parkin | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Lucy Leather-Barrow | Ynys Mon Celts |
| Nadia Ghonim | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Nansi Thomas | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Seren Richards | Pontypridd Panthers |
| Head Coach – Will Hopper Team Manager – Cath Richards |
Myself and the girls are looking forward to the upcoming Four Nations Tournament. Due to what has gone on in the world over the past couple of years, for many of the players’ this is their first experience of representing Wales on the international stage. It will be a tough tournament but we are looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best players in Great Britain and Ireland.
Will Hopper, Wales U16 Women Head Coach
Basketball Wales is also be sending a team of officials to the tournament. They have all completed /or are on the Level 3 pathway in their respective disciplines:
- Duncan Mackenzie (Referee) – Cardiff Met Archers
- Karl Abraham (Referee) – Swansea Storm
- Emily Gilroy (Table Official) – Swansea Storm
- Rhian Mackenzie (Table Official) – Cardiff Met Archers
Squads announced for U18 Four Nations Tournament
12 April 2022
The home nations of England, Scotland and Wales will be joined by Ireland in Cardiff on 13-14 April 2022 to compete in the U18 Four Nations Tournament. The event is being held at the Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cyncoed Campus), Archers Arena.
Tickets are available for the event and all games will be live steamed on the BBL Player.
Wales U18 Men
| Josh Brown | Cardiff City Basketball Club |
| Rhys Cornelius | Vale Vipers and Tonyrefail Tigers |
| Jack Davies | Vale Vipers and Pontypridd Panthers |
| Lucas Davies | Derby Trailblazers |
| Connor Whitney-Embleton | Derby Trailblazers |
| Rhys Grocott | Reading Rockets |
| Juan Roderick | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Lucas Scotland | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Joe Thomas | Ipswich Basketball Academy |
| Solomon Minty-Walker | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Pete Walker | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Oliver Wright | Oaklands Wolves |
| Owain Kimber | Oaklands Wolves |
| Rio Oakey | Bristol Flyers SGS Academy |
| Paul Packham | Swansea Storm |
| Wil Owen | Vales Vipers |
| Head Coach – Nick O’Leary Assistant Coach – Alexis Lewis Assistant Coach – Jack Adams Team Manager – Rachael Symons |
U18 Women
| Emma Bailey | Bristol Flyers |
| Isobel Bunyan | Cardiff Met Archers and Pontypridd Panthers |
| Kate Davies | Charnwood and Leicester Riders |
| Maisie Harrhy | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Neva Hughes | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Anna Lane | Team Solent Kestrels |
| Candice Luceau | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Abbi Morris | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Funmi Oduwaiye | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Daisy Porter | Oaklands Wolves |
| Rosie Porter | Oaklands Wolves |
| Carys Roy | Cardiff Met Archers |
| Lucy Stradling | Cardiff City Women Basketball Club |
| Head coach – Azeb Smalley Assistant coach – Beth Jones Assistant coach – Mara Marchizotti Assistant coach – Angelina Marazzi |
It’s always an honour to coach for Wales. The Four Nations tournament is a fantastic event for the home nations to showcase their talent in a competitive environment. It’s been great seeing the national team programme back in action.
I’m excited to see the hard work the girls have put in come to fruition over the coming days. I’ve had the pleasure of coaching these girls for a number of years, seeing them succeed within their own clubs and now having the opportunity to come together and represent their country.
Azeb Smalley, U18 Wales Women Head Coach
Basketball Wales National League Finals Day
02 April 2022
Before the inaugural Cup and Plate finals in the first year of the Basketball Wales National League, Basketball Wales CEO Gavin Williams noted that steady progress had been the key to the development of Welsh basketball throughout the past year.
The two finals that followed continued that same trend.
The Cup final, held at Glyndwr University in Wrexham, hosted the RCT Gladiators and the Cheshire Raptors in front of a sell out crowd of 300 spectators. The game began with 23 fouls in the opening quarter, as the Raptors forced their way to an early lead over the team that beat them in the regular season.
Lloyd Williams, the Gladiators’ leading scorer in the group stage, picked up three fouls within the first two minutes of the game, forcing the Gladiators to their bench early, contributing to the Raptors’ 29-16 lead at the end of the first.
The physical tone established early continued throughout the game – 46 fouls were called by the end of the night, and practically every starter from both teams was in foul trouble from start to finish. In the 2ndquarter the Gladiators cut the Raptors lead down to 10, led by the trio of brothers (Owen, Lloyd, and Rhys Williams) who launched 56 shots between the three of them as they attempted to come back.
However, the Raptors’ depth and early lead proved too much to handle for the Gladiators as the game progressed. Raptors forward Iker Amuchastegui, former Manchester Giants player, dominated off the bench and scored 16 points to go with 13 rebounds and 2 blocks in just 26 minutes on the floor to earn the game’s MVP award. The Raptors led from start to finish, and even though they were outrebounded and committed more turnovers, a Raptor player was always ready to step up in support, as 5 players scored double-digit points to consistently push the Gladiators back.
After winning the Cup final, Raptors coach Tom Griffiths said “Good job to our guys; got dug in, and we stuck to our game plan– a win’s a win, I’ll take that!”.
In the following Plate final, the Cardiff Tribal Hunters and Ynys Mon Celts faced off, each having finished 3rd in the group stage. The Celts raced to an early lead of their own, forcing an11-point 1st-quarter lead behind former Wales U18 player Llyfon Torr’s orchestration of the offense. As the Hunters attempted to come back, the Celts kept their lead well, shooting almost 50% in the first half and outrebounding the Hunters by 20, keeping the Celts on top by 8 at the half.
Clearly, the Hunters needed the first 20 minutes to settle into their gameplan; as they came out for the second half, star players Justas Jodkevicius and Eli Andam came alive. The two combined for 56 points, and Andam shot 70% from the field in the second half as he proceeded to completely take over the Plate final. He controlled the paint defensively, forcing the Celts into just 30 2ndhalf points with his 3 blocks and menacing presence, and used his length to force steals and tough passes around the court, leading to his incredible 32 points, 11 rebound, 9 assists, 5 steals, and 3 blocks on the stat line.
However, the most incredible moment of the day came from Andam with nine minutes left in the game. Andam stole the ball away and broke down the court on his own; as he rose for a tremendous dunk, he swung so hard that the rim was torn from its casing into the metal frame of the backboard, ruining the hoop and stunning the arena. After a long delay to clear the fans to one side of the arena, the game eventually resumed on cross-court hoops, and the Hunters strolled to the victory after.
After the game, Andam, fresh off a demoralizing relegation with his NBL team, Cardiff Met, said “I wanted to take it all out today – it’s good to shake the dust off a bit, it feels good to win something! … I said today, I’m putting it all on the court”.
The day ended with the Raptors taking home the inaugural BWNL Cup and the Hunters winning the BWNL Plate, both presented by Carolyn Thomas, Member of the Senedd for North Wales, by Ronnie Prince, the Mayor of Wrexham, James Morgans, BWNL Lead, Basketball Wales CEO Gavin Williams and Vice-Chair Phil John. This first season in the BWNL was a resounding success for Basketball Wales – if this final is any indication, the BWNL has plenty of potential and an incredible 2nd year in store for the 2023 season.
Photos Credit: John Smith
John Smith is a sports photographer from Merthyr Tydfil with 7 years experience working with sports associations, and brands.
Article Credit: Atticus Pead
Atticus Pead is completing a Master’s degree in Sports Broadcasting at Cardiff Metropolitan University. When he’s not covering sports for work, he’s watching them at home, and monologuing to his wife about sports constantly. As a newcomer to the United Kingdom, his favourite part is the weather, and he would enjoy rain daily for the rest of his life.
@AtticusPead Twitter and Instagram
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3X3 Men’s Head Coach announced
23 March 2022
Basketball Wales is delighted to announce that Andy Purnell will be leading the 3X3 men’s team for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games qualifiers in Glasgow.
Andy is currently the head coach of the Wales U23 men and assistant head coach of the senior men’s team.
This is what he had to say about his appointment:
” Firstly, congratulations to all the players, from both teams and every nation on being selected for this tournament. Representing your country at any level is a massive achievement and one I hope everyone will look back on with cherished memories.
“I am extremely thankful to be part of the Welsh team looking to make history in qualifying for the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. I am very proud of our players, both those selected, as well as those who have played a part in getting our team this far. This includes those all around the UK and America who made themselves available for selection camps and games prior to this tournament.
“Everyone has had a difficult couple of years and I hope to lead our team to a success will galvanize our nation and the passionate individuals involved in our sport from each corner of the country. I know the team will play with passion and fighting spirit and most importantly will return with heads held high, and looking to have inspired players up and down the country to dream big and pursue their goals.”
Find out a bit more about Andy and his basketball career.
More information about the tournament and team announcements will be made shortly.
3X3 Women’s Head Coach announced
14 March 2022
Basketball Wales is pleased to announce that CJ Lee, the current Head Coach of the senior women will be leading our women’s team to the Commonwealth Games FIBA 3X3 European Qualifiers.
The qualifying tournament will be taking place at the sportscotland Inverclyde National Sports Training Centre in Largs on 6 April 2022.
On his new role CJ said:
It’s a privilege to lead the the Wales Women into the Commonwealth Qualifiers for 3X3 this coming April.
The Commonwealth Games is one of those global mega-events that inspired me to be an athlete and then a coach.
The team and I recognise the immense challenge and opportunity that lies before us. I know we will fight with every ounce of our strength to take advantage of that.
CJ Lee, 3X3 Women’s National Team Head Coach
Find out more about CJ and his basketball background.
More information about the tournament and the announcement of the men’s Head Coach and team announcements will be made shortly.
Youth home nations basketball is back, bigger and better after the Coronavirus pandemic
3 March 2022
The home nations of England, Scotland and Wales will be joined by Ireland in three exciting home nations tournaments to be held during April and May 2022.
It has been over two years since the last youth home nations tournament took place. The tournament for U16 and U18 was hosted by Basketball England and held at the National Performance Centre in Manchester. Now it’s back, and bigger than ever – a new age group has been added and we welcome our friends from Ireland.
Both the U14 and U16 boys’ and girls’ tournaments will be held in Dundee and hosted by basketballscotland, and Basketball Wales will host the U18 men and women in Cardiff.
On hosting one of the tournaments, Gavin Williams, Basketball Wales CEO said:
“Basketball Wales is pleased to be hosting the U18 Four Nations tournament. We’re looking forward to welcoming players, coaches, and supporters to the Welsh capital and to the Archers Arena at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
“Now that Wales’ U16 and U18 entries into the FIBA European Championships have finished following the 2012 agreement, these competitions will be the annual focus for our national performance squads.”
These two-day tournaments will give players the opportunity to put on their national team vests and come together to play for their country and showcase their talents ahead of the FIBA European Championships, where GB and Ireland will be competing at both U16 and U18.
Steve Bucknall, Head of Talent and Performance at Basketball England said:
“It can only do the home nations good to play competitive matches against each other. To paraphrase a quote from Helen Keller, alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.
“The four nations provide an excellent opportunity for the player’s coaches and staff to test their mettle against each other and support the identification of GB teams. Team England is looking forward to a long collaboration between the home nations.”
Barry Lang, Head of Basketball at basketballscotland added:
“We’re delighted to be participating in the four nations competition. For many of our players this will be their first exposure to international basketball, so this will be a great learning environment, where the intensity of the games will be unlike anything they will have experienced before.
“For the players and staff who have attended events like this in the past, this will be an opportunity to see where they’re at and potentially gain a call up to GB youth squads.”
On their involvement in the tournaments, Dr Tim Rice, Chair of Basketball Ireland’s Elite Performance Committee said:
“Basketball Ireland is thrilled to be part of this exciting Four Nations tournament. It has been quite a number of years since we have had a chance to compete against our near neighbours and the games are always highly competitive.
“Giving the players the opportunity to play in a highly charged atmosphere will be excellent preparation for the summer’s FIBA European Championships, and with so little international basketball over the last two years both players and staff are hugely excited to be taking part.”
Details of the three tournaments are as follows:
U18 men and women
13 – 14 April 2022
Archers Arena, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff.
Four nations tournament featuring England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
U16 boys and girls
6 – 8 May 2022
Regional Performance Centre, Dundee.
Four nations tournament featuring England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (U16 boys only).
U14 boys and girls
13 – 15 May 2022
Regional Performance Centre, Dundee.
Tri-nations tournament featuring England, Scotland, and Wales.
For tournament media enquiries please contact:
U14 and U16 tournaments (Dundee)
John Kerray, basketballscotland Player Development Manager
john.kerray@basketball-scotland.com
07595 278686
U18 tournament (Cardiff)
Rhian Mackenzie, Basketball Wales Communications Director
media@basketball.wales
07946 454636
If you would like to discuss sponsorship opportunities for the U18 tournament in Cardiff, please contact Kate Gordos commercial@basketball.wales
NBA announces the return of the Jr. NBA coaches – Online program presented by Gatorade® for coaches and players in the UK
26 January 2022
The NBA has announced the third instalment of the Jr. NBA Coaches – Online program presented by Gatorade®, a virtual resource and content platform offering drills, instructional videos and clinics which was originally launched in 2020 and has featured 20 current and former NBA coaches from five countries. The free program, hosted on OWQLO, the official Jr. NBA League app in Europe and the Middle East (EME), will feature 12 live virtual coaching clinics from February to September for interested coaches and players in the UK.
Open to app users 16 years and older of all skill levels and abilities, sessions will include a variety of content offerings highlighted by live coaching clinics moderated by the NBA’s EME Basketball Operations team and featuring a host of current and former NBA coaches. Gatorade, the world’s number one sports drink and official partner of the NBA, returns as presenting partner of the program and will support participants with a dedicated hydration and sports nutrition section.
The first clinic on Sunday, 13 February will feature Ryan Saunders, who most recently served as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, followed by a clinic on Sunday, 27 March with Brittni Donaldson, who previously served as an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors and the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.
The clinics will also include a Q&A section, allowing participants to interact with and learn directly from the featured coach. Dates and guest coaches for forthcoming sessions of the Jr. NBA Coaches – Online program presented by Gatorade will be announced in due course. Clinics will also be archived and available to view on demand on the OWQLO App.
Fans can find more information onowqlo.com, gatorade.co.uk and @NBAUK on Facebook and Twitter and @NBAEurope on Instagram. For general information on the Jr. NBA, fans can check out Jr. NBA social channels across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jr. NBA Wales Draft Day delivers on it’s promise
The schools selected for the 2021–22 Jr. NBA Wales League made their way to Aberystwyth University for a fun-filled day, meeting the other schools, participating in basketball skill sessions and learning more about the Jr. NBA. Teachers from each school were involved with a Power Hour session to help them with coaching their teams before the competition begins next year. It was the day that all 32 participating Welsh schools had been waiting for – Jr. NBA draft day! Which NBA team would their school be representing? Will it be Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors or Dallas Mavericks and the magical Luka Doncic?
The highlight of the day was the draft itself. Similar to the NBA, teams are divided into two conferences. The North and South Conference competitions will take place in March 2022 at venues in Bangor and Cardiff respectively, while the Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League Finals will take place in June 2022 in Aberystwyth. The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.
“Setting up a Jr. NBA League here in Wales has been on the Basketball Wales wish-list for a long time,” said Basketball Wales Jr. NBA project lead, Jon Bunyan. “It has taken a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of people to get us here, but the Draft day was one we will never forget! We had a lot of volunteers to help us deliver the skills sessions, whilst Adrian Carrion Armas from the NBA delivered sessions to the teachers. We hope all of the morning activities inspired the schools”.
“The main draft event surpassed all of our expectations as the response from pupils was phenomenal. We would encourage you to watch the YouTube video of the event – as we are really proud of how it was all brought alive to help emphasise this is a programme all about the kids and inspiring them to play basketball through their Jr. NBA experience”.
The list of those to thank is extremely long. We had over 70 volunteers! I would like to say a big thank you to them all and also:
• Adrian Carrion Armas, EME Basketball Operations, National Basketball Association (NBA)
• Our host for the Draft event, Jamie Mcansh
• Funmi Oduwaiye
• Aberstwyth University
• Aberystwyth University staff
• Professor Tim Woods, Pro Vice-Chancellor
• Darren Hathaway, Head of Sport & Grounds
• Jeff Saycell, Sports Facilities & University Grounds Manager
• Aureil Martin, Operations & Planning Manager
• Joe Wilcox
• John Smith
• John Davenport
Over the next few years, Basketball Wales will be developing the Jr. NBA initiative to include a girls’ only league with teams representing the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), and wheelchair basketball league. Our ambition is to grow the competition so that many more schools can participate, and more young people can get the chance to play basketball.”
Team Wales head to Scotland to fight for a place in the Commonwealth Games
It might be home advantage for Scotland, but Wales men and women will be travelling to Paisley after Christmas full of confidence to try and secure a place in next year’s Commonwealth Games 3×3 tournament.
3×3 basketball has seen a huge rise in popularity, with tournaments happening throughout the UK this summer – including our very own 3×3 Summer Tour, and of course 3×3 basketball making its debut at the Tokyo Olympics.
Next year will see another first for the sport as it features in the Commonwealth Games. The games, being held in Birmingham, will be an amazing opportunity for people to see this fast-paced version of the game. And Basketball Wales wants to be part of the action…
Competing for those gold medals will be 16 (eight male and eight female) teams. 14 of those teams have already qualified. The final 2 places will be determined at the Home Nations Qualification Tournament being held on 28 December at the Lagoon Centre, Paisley. Wales men and women will face Scotland and Northern Ireland in this winner takes all tournament.
As a coach I’m grateful for this competitive opportunity. As a team we can’t wait for this opportunity be a part of Team Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. What an honour that would be!
I also hope that this can kick start a 3×3 revolution in Wales. It’s a fantastic way develop players who have a good level of individual technical and tactical ability.
James Bamfield, Wales Men Head Coach.
Here are the teams that will be competing in the 3×3 Tournament (29 July – 2 August 2022) at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham:
Women
- England (qualify as hosts)
- Kenya (Africa)
- Canada (Americas)
- Sri Lanka (Asia)
- St. Lucia (Caribbean)
- New Zealand (Oceania)
- Australia (Direct qualification)
- Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland (Europe – Home nations qualifier)
Men
- England (qualify as hosts)
- Kenya (Africa)
- Canada (Americas)
- Sri Lanka (Asia)
- Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean)
- New Zealand (Oceania)
- Australia (Direct qualification)
- Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland (Europe – Home nations qualifier)
We will bring more information on the format of the tournament when we have it.
GB age group teams statement
26 November 2021
Great Britain will enter four junior teams in the FIBA European Championships 2022 after a plan to fund the programmes was drawn up by the Home Countries.
The male and female GB U16s and U18s will enter competitions next summer, supported financially and logistically by Basketball England, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales.
With the British Basketball Federation’s UK Sport funds only allowed to be focused on the men’s and women’s senior teams, the Home Countries have collaborated to provide a juniors funding package that can afford to prepare and field four teams.
The difficult decision has been made, between the BBF and HCAs, that the younger age groups will be prioritised and the two U20s teams will not take part.
All GB age-group teams were withdrawn from European competition in 2021 because of COVID-19 and despite the adverse impact of the pandemic on income streams for all NGBs, there has been a collective commitment to ensure at least some of the nation’s young talent do not miss another chance to develop on the international stage.
With many U20s players finding competitive opportunities in other fields, such as the domestic and international education and senior club settings, it was decided the limited funding should be focused on the U16 and U18 age groups.
Toni Minichiello, Interim Chair of the BBF, said: “I’d like to offer my thanks to the Home Countries for stepping in to back as much of the junior programme as is possible.
“The BBF’s UK Sport support doesn’t allow us to spend the Progression funding we have received on anything other than our senior teams.
“Therefore, it is fantastic news that the HCAs have been able to help out to back four of our six teams. Of course, we would all love to be able to find the money to do more, but basketball is not a rich sport and collaboration, as we saw in the summer with Basketball England’s support of the GB 3×3 teams, is helping us do what we can with limited funds.”
Steve Bucknall, Basketball England Head of Talent and Performance, said: “England and the other home country associations have been able to pull together funding to allow our U16s and U18s compete next year.
“Following long and difficult discussions and deliberations, including with our BBF colleagues, we have been able to offer a solution that allows four of the GB teams to compete next year. It comes against the challenging and uncertain financial backdrop for all organisations involved caused by the pandemic.
“We are aware that it will be a big disappointment to the players and coaches involved at U20 level but delighted to be able support four of the teams.”
Basketball Wales kick start their new student internship programme
29 October 2021
Basketball Wales is proud to announce that the first Santander Internship scheme with Cardiff Metropolitan University was a success.
The scheme enabled Basketball Wales to recruit a student for the summer of 2021 from Cardiff Metropolitan University. The internship allowed the student to gain valuable work experience with a National Governing Body (NGB) within a rapidly growing sport.
After a rigorous selection process involving an initial application and an interview, Reeve Messenger, a 2nd Year BSc Sport Management student with a passion for sports development and sports marketing was appointed as a Marketing and Public Relations Intern.
Commenting on his experience, Reeve said: “I am really thankful that Basketball Wales gave me the opportunity to get experience with such a reputable organisation. As a student during these unfamiliar times, it can be hard to find relevant work experience, so I am grateful for Cardiff Metropolitan University, Basketball Wales, and the Santander Internship scheme for allowing me to gain experience that will be invaluable in my future career.”
Leading on the partnership was Commercial Director, Kate Gordos:
“Basketball Wales were excited to get involved with the Santander Internship scheme this summer – partnering with Cardiff Metropolitan University. We had an important nationwide launch of our new mini basketball initiative ‘Smaller Ballers’. We felt this project was perfect for a student from the Sport Management course and we are delighted with how the launch went.
“Reeve was given autonomy to create a timeline marketing plan for this launch and create the digital content used across social media platforms and the new Smaller Ballers website, whilst monitoring the engagement over an 8/9 week period. We look forward to following Reeve’s career in the future, and hope to work with Reeve on future projects. Thank you to Natalie Light at Cardiff Metropolitan University who has supported Basketball Wales through the whole process
Natalie Light from the university said: “It has been wonderful working with Basketball Wales on providing an internship for Reeve this Summer. From my initial meetings with Kate Gordos and learning about the Smaller Ballers initiative, I was so excited that one of Cardiff Met’s students would get to be a part of its launch.
“Reeve has been able to gain some invaluable experience with a fantastic organisation, and in turn has been able to contribute a professional, engaging marketing plan for their launch. I hope that we can continue the partnership between Basketball Wales and Cardiff Met in future!”
Officials for the British Basketball League and the Women’s British Basketball League announced by each Home Country Association
9 September 2021
Referees
- Dan Cox
- Firooz Dehdarvand
- Ashley Fisher
- Matt Godfrey
- Gavin Williams
Table Officials
- Caitlin Arnold
- Thomas Cox
- James Dawe
- Eloise Ferguson
- Beth Jones
- Rhys Mackenzie
- Rhian Mackenzie
- Azeb Smalley
- Winston Williams
Statisticians
- Duncan Mackenzie
Commenting on today’s announcement Basketball Wales Chair Keith Mair said:
“It’s great to see a number of officials from across Wales are going to be active in the BBL and WBBL this season. Basketball Wales has a strong tradition of developing officials that have the skills and competencies of working at the highest level of the sport within GB and this year is no exception.”
In other officiating news…
Basketball Wales would also like to take this opportunity to wish Haydn Jones, former FIBA and BBL/WBBL referee; and long standing Basketball Wales board member as Director of Officiating , the best of luck as he relocates to Scotland to start a new job.
Haydn might be stepping away from the court this season but he’s still going to be involved with basketball and officiating. He has taken up a role with the BBL/WBBL and will be responsible for the nomination of game appointments and the development and training of officials.
NBA and Basketball Wales launch country’s first Jr.NBA league
26 August 2021
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Basketball Wales today announced a new partnership to create the first Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League in the presence of Wales Basketball CEO Gavin Williams, NBA Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations, Europe and Middle East, Neal Meyer and guests in Cardiff. The school-based league for girls and boys ages 11-13 will tip off with a Jr. NBA draft event on Nov. 23 in Aberystwyth.
The Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League will be available for 32 local schools throughout Wales, spanning each of the country’s 22 local authorities. School teams will be selected at the Jr. NBA Draft to represent one of the 30 NBA teams and will receive corresponding NBA team-branded jerseys for their games. As part of the event, players and coaches will find out more about the competition, meet the other schools and take part in a range of skills challenges
The Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2019-20 season, the NBA and its teams reached 14.5 million youth around the world through in-person events and clinics, before transitioning to virtual programming and online youth basketball development events that generated more than 210 million views from youth players and fans in 118 countries.
“Setting up a Jr. NBA League here in Wales has been on the Basketball Wales wish-list for a long time,” said Basketball Wales Jr. NBA project lead Jon Bunyan. “It has taken a lot of hard work by a dedicated group of people to get us to this point and we are all delighted that the NBA have approved our plans for the league. Over the next few years, we will be developing the Jr. NBA initiative to include a girls’ only league with teams representing the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association), a wheelchair competition and developing links with youth sports organizations. Our ambition is to grow the competition so that many more schools can participate, and more young people can get the chance to play basketball.”
“We are pleased to partner with Basketball Wales to promote youth basketball development across the country through the launch of the Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League,” said Meyer. “Together we will offer a program that fosters healthy competition, teaches the values of the game, and provides an opportunity for children to have fun while learning more about the sport.”
Similar to the NBA, teams will be divided into two conferences. The Northern Conference, representing the NBA’s Eastern Conference, and the Southern Conference representing the Western Conference, will each include 16 teams. The Northern and Southern Conference games are tentatively scheduled to take place in March 2022 at venues in Bangor and Cardiff respectively, while the Jr. NBA Basketball Wales League Finals are tentatively due to take place in June 2022 in Aberystwyth.
For more information on the Jr. NBA League program in the UK, please visit jrnbaleague.uk/ and follow the Jr. NBA on Facebook (Facebook.com/jrnba), Instagram (@jrnba) and Twitter (@jrnba).
For more NBA information, fans in the UK can visit NBA.com/UK, the league’s official online destination in the UK, and follow the NBA on Facebook (NBA), Twitter (@NBAUK) and Instagram (@NBAEurope).
iPRO Extends Partnership with Basketball Wales For 3×3 Summer Tour 2021
Basketball Wales are pleased to announce iPRO Hydrate as the ‘Official Hydration Partner’ for the Basketball Wales 3×3 Summer Tour, as an extension of their present partnership.
To celebrate the return to Basketball post-COVID-19 restrictions, Basketball Wales is hosting an outdoor 3×3 competition for U14’s, U16’s, U18’s, and senior teams. The next event takes place on the 8th of August at Tonyrefail, and the final event will be held on the 29th of August in Cardiff. This partnership will provide participants with the healthy hydration they need to perform at their best during the fast-paced competition. iPRO will also award winners of each category with iPRO Hydrate – Sport Edition packs and iPRO Water Bottles.
iPRO Hydrate – Sport Edition is an Informed Sport certified hydration drinks range trusted by sporting organisations and athletic communities worldwide. Scientifically formulated to hydrate players at an optimal level, the gold-standard hydration solution helps to fuel endurance performance and maintain concentration. Infused with added electrolytes and supplemented with vital vitamins, the same great-tasting iPRO Hydrate – Sport Edition range can now be experienced at home by purchasing at http://www.iPRO.Direct for less than £1 a bottle!
iPRO will deliver their iPRO Hydrate – Sport Edition range to the 3×3 Summer Tour as part of #iPRODirectToYou, a campaign recently unveiled by iPRO to help grassroots sports bounce back following the impact of Covid-19. Grassroots sports play a huge role in young people’s health and wellbeing. Bearing in mind that 50% of mental health issues are established by the age of 14, words can’t describe how important sports like Basketball are to the lives of young people.
Any grassroots clubs can get involved with the #iPRODirectToYou campaign by purchasing promotional packs of iPRO Hydrate – Sport Edition for less than £1 a bottle at http://www.iPRO.Direct to resell at events and tournaments. Clubs will keep profits made to fund their day-to-day running expenses, so they can get back to giving young people the opportunity to play again.
Gavin Williams, CEO of Basketball Wales, commented on the announcement:
“We have a highly valued, long-standing partnership with iPRO Hydrate, and we greatly appreciate their continued support of Welsh basketball. After a very successful start, the
Basketball Wales 3×3 Summer Tour is set to become an exciting annual event and we aim to increase venues and participation every year. We have great outdoor courts facilities, and we want to showcase these venues, as well as giving players an opportunity to participate in 3×3 competitions. As we have seen in the Olympics and hopefully in next year’s Commonwealth Games, 3×3 is an exciting and accessible format of the sport. We have extremely supportive clubs and individuals, who alongside our commercial partners have been instrumental in making the tour a success. I’m sure that you are going to enjoy the basketball at our final event of the summer in Tonyrefail and Cardiff”.
Beth Jones, Basketball Wales 3×3 Lead and Event Organiser, also commented:
“I am delighted to be part of the Basketball Wales 3×3 Summer Tour, bringing this fast-paced format of the game to town and cities across Wales. We’ve had a fantastic turnout in both Swansea and Flint and hopefully, future events in Tonyrefail and Cardiff will be sell-outs!
It’s been a lot of fun, and it’s been so good to have competitive basketball being played again following the difficult year that we’ve all had. To see players, parents, and supporters enjoying themselves at the events has made all the organising work worthwhile! As we look forward to the rest of the tour, it’s brilliant to have the support and backing of iPRO Hydrate”.
iPRO Global Partnerships Manager, Lucy Darrall, said:
“We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with Basketball Wales and become the ‘Official Hydration Partner’ for their 3×3 Summer Tour. We’ve loved supporting Basketball Wales players at their annual events and training sessions with our healthy hydration range, and to support this fantastic event through the #iPRODirectToYou campaign is an absolute privilege. With 3×3 Basketball making its debut at both the 2020 Summer Olympics and 2022 Commonwealth Games, it’s an exciting time for this format of the sport. We wish all of the teams the best of luck!”
Get in on the action and order your own supply of healthy hydration for less than £1 a bottle including FREE delivery at http://www.iPRO.Direct.
Return to play – COVID-19 update
4 May 2021
With all of Wales now entering alert level 3, here is the guidance from Basketball Wales on returning to playing and training both indoors and outdoors.
These are all applicable from Monday 3 May 2021
Please continue to adhere to the guidance and stay safe.
Outdoor sessions
- Organised club events only, COVID officer must be present.
- All our COVID-19 checking protocols apply – declaration statement, a log of who attends for contact tracing, cleaning station for equipment and hands.
- No sharing transport to sessions unless you’re in same household or support bubble.
- No maximum numbers for children U18s but clubs please be guided by the space available and the number of people needed to supervise.
- Maximum number of 30 for adults over 18s. This includes coaches actively involved on the court, volunteers off court and not directly involved are not counted in the maximum number.
- Off court – social distancing applies to all and no sharing of drinks, towels or food.
- Adult spectators/parents should not be on or near the court unless they need to be closer to provide support or assistance to a child or vulnerable adult.
- Contact play is allowed but keep periods short (10 to 15 minutes), keep people in the same small groups, those in a household bubble can play together.
- Regular breaks – clean hands and sanitise all equipment at each break.
Indoor sessions
- Organised club events only, COVID officer must be present.
- All our COVID-19 checking protocols apply – declaration statement, a log of who attends for contact tracing, cleaning station for equipment and hands.
- No sharing transport to sessions unless you’re in same household or support bubble.
- U11s – no maximum numbers but clubs need to be aware of the space available to and the level of supervision needed.
- Over 12s (including adults) – maximum of 15. This includes coaches actively involved on the court, volunteers off court and not directly involved are not counted in the maximum number.
- Off court – social distancing applies to all and no sharing of drinks, towels or food.
- No spectators or parents allowed court side unless they need to be there to provide support or assistance for a child or vulnerable adult.
- All our COVID-19 checking protocols apply – declaration statement, a log of who attends for contact tracing, cleaning station for equipment and hands.
- Regular breaks – clean hands at each break.
- Face coverings must be worn (unless exempt) on entering and leaving the building or when going to use the toilets.
- Face coverings must be worn by anyone off court, unless exempt.
- Face coverings are recommended for coaches on court but this can be a face shield to assist with communication.
- Please note the regulations on multiple groups of 15 in any one single space is still being clarified so please keep numbers to 15 per basketball court for now until we get the clarification. Players and coaches in each group should not be swapping between groups during a session.
Modified contact play summary
- Small groups for drills, skills and fitness, contact game play must be 3×3.
- Ball sharing is allowed but strict cleaning and sanitising procedures must be in place:
- Skills and drills – at each break all balls in use must be cleaned and sanitised
- Contact game play – every time a ball goes out of play it must be swapped for a clean ball, balls must be cleaned and sanitised at every break
- Contact game play is allowed but keep periods short (10 minutes maximum indoors), keep people in the same small groups, no swapping players or coaches between each group, those in a household bubble can play together.
- Contact game play initially will be within your own club.
- Modified rules apply – no high fives, celebrations and off court social distancing applies.
For more information please contact enquiries@basketball.wales and go the COVID-19 Hub for all the latest guidance and resources.
Stay Active…sign up and you could win
21 April 2021
The Jr. NBA Stay Active – Online was launched on 22 March and has been a huge success from live Q&A sessions with Stef Collins and Robyn Love, a well-being and mindfulness guide with Azania Stewart and various skill sessions with coaches from Basketball Wales, Basketball England and Basketball Scotland. The virtual program is available via OWQLO, the official Jr. NBA League app.
With some exciting stuff still to come as part of the Stay Active programme you have an extra incentive to sign up…you could be in with a chance of winning a £100 NBA store voucher.
See all terms and conditions:
- The Promoter is Basketball Wales, 5 Cwrt Rebecca, Pontradulais, Swansea SA4 8LJ
- These Terms and Conditions refer to a randomly drawn competition entered by children signing up to ‘Jr. NBA – Stay Active’ via an online sign-up form on Thursday 22nd and Thursday 29th April after the link is shared through Basketball Wales social channels.
- Children will be automatically entered into the prize-draw and the participant will be bound by these terms and conditions.
- There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this competition.
- Only one registration will be accepted per valid email address. Multiple entries with the same email address will be disqualified.No responsibility can be accepted for registrations not received for whatever reason.
- The competition will close at 11:59pm on Thursday 29th April 2021. After this time there will be no further draws, unless notified through Basketball Wales Social Media.
- There are seven prizes in this competition, with seven separate winners receiving one prize each. The prizes are 7 £100 NBA EU store vouchers.
- Winners will be notified by email within 2 working days of each of the draws closing.
- Each prize must be claimed by the winner within 14 days of notification.
- Vouchers must be redeemed by 31 July 2021.
- The prize is not transferable and no cash alternative is available.
- Basketball Wales will not take responsibility for any lost prizes – replacements cannot be issued.
- If you are a winner, Basketball Wales may request you to participate in any publicity or promotion organised by Basketball Wales including promotional photographs. If you are Under 18, your parent/guardians permission will be sought.
- You are providing information to Basketball Wales and OWQLO as part of your Jr. NBA Stay Active Sign Up.
- Basketball Wales reserves the right to withdraw this offer or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time without notice.
- In the event of any dispute regarding the Terms and Conditions, the conduct, results and any other matters relating to this prize draw, the decision of Basketball Wales shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
- Parents will be contacted to accept prizes on behalf of under 18s.
Jr. NBA to offer new virtual programming to youth players across the UK in collaboration with basketball federations in England, Scotland and Wales
18 March 2021
The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the launch of Jr. NBA Stay Active – Online, a series of virtual basketball and life skills development sessions for young people across the UK. The new virtual program, launched in collaboration with Basketball England, Basketball Scotland and Basketball Wales, will tip off on Monday 22 March 2021 via OWQLO, the official Jr. NBA League app.
Jr. NBA Stay Active – Online will offer boys and girls the opportunity to participate in basketball development sessions alongside their peers from across the UK and under the guidance of former NBA players, current and former British professional players and staff from all three basketball federations. In addition to helping young boys and girls develop on the court, the program will feature live Q&As with current and former professional players and provide off-court resources to foster leadership and life skills development.
“We are delighted to collaborate with the basketball federations in England, Scotland and Wales to deliver impactful virtual basketball development programming to youth across the UK,” said NBA EME Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations Neal Meyer. “The program will be widely accessible through the OWQLO App, and provide young boys and girls with the tools and resources to stay connected to the game, develop their skills and learn the core values of basketball.”
Before transitioning to virtual programming in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Jr. NBA Basketball England League featured 16 leagues for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls in seven cities and regions across England. In 2019, Basketball Scotland hosted two Jr. NBA Leagues and launched the first-ever Jr. NBA Wheelchair League.
The Jr. NBA Stay Active – Online program marks the Jr. NBA’s first collaboration with Basketball Wales.
The Jr. NBA is the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaching the fundamental skills as well as the core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents. During the 2019-20 season, the NBA and its teams reached 14.5M youth around the world through in-person events and clinics, before transitioning to virtual programming and online youth basketball development events that generated more than 210M views from youth players and fans in 118 countries.
For more information on the Jr. NBA League in the UK, please visit http://jrnbaleague.uk/
Fans in the UK can find more NBA information at NBA.com/UK, the league’s official online destination in the UK, and on Facebook (NBA) and Twitter (@NBAUK).
About the NBA
The NBA is a global sports and media business built around four professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the NBA G League and the NBA 2K League. The NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 100,000 stores in 100 countries on six continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2020-21 season featured 107 international players from 41 countries. NBA digital assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 1.9 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms. Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognised youth-serving organisations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.
FIBA Europe coaching certificate (FECC), looking for candidates
18 February 2021
Basketball Wales has the opportunity to nominate candidates for the next round of the FIBA Europe coaching Certificate (FECC) commencing this summer (COVID-19 restrictions permitting).
All applications are submitted to the British Basketball Federations who will then apply on our behalf to FIBA for candidate consideration. You can get more information on the FIBA website.
The curriculum for the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate has been developed by some of the best-known coaching experts in youth basketball. The mentor of this programme is Svetislav Pesic, widely recognised as one of the most successful basketball coaches in Europe and the world.
Participant conditions and criteria for selection
Nominees must be actively coaching young players in Wales. In addition, nominees must be:
- Currently affiliated coach with Basketball Wales
- Committed to attending and completing all elements of the FECC.
- Coaching within the Basketball Wales National Team Programme or GB National Team or a Head Coach in a Basketball Wales affiliated club
- Coaches should remain coaching within a Welsh programme for the duration of the FECC qualification.
- Hold a Level 3 Qualification (desirable)
The successful candidate must:
- Complete a comprehensive written report detailing coaches learning, new skills, techniques and drills on each week to be circulated to all Basketball Wales coaches.
- Deliver presentations to Basketball Wales club coaches to share learning.
Examination regulations
To receive the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate each participant must:
- Attend all three clinics in full
- Complete 2 written papers
- Pass a practical examination
- Pass the oral examination
- Pass the final written exam
Participation fees
Candidates will need to cover all accommodation/travel expenses themselves. There is no coach tuition fee for the FECC. However, Basketball Wales will reimburse agreed transportation costs up to a maximum of £350.00 on completion of nominated coaches agreed conditions above.We have an extremely tight deadline to submit our candidates to the British Basketball Federation.
If you would like to be considered as a candidate please can you email back an expression of interest to Basketball Wales. Decisions on selection will be made on the application submitted (no interviews) due to the timescales.
Basketball Wales performance in the safe hands of Simon Fisher
Basketball Wales would like to announce a change on the Board of Directors.
We are delighted that Simon Fisher has accepted the position of Director National Teams following the announcement that Cameron Seeley was standing down due to work commitments
Simon will be working along side Stef Collins, Women and Girl’s Performance Director.
Some of you might know Simon, but if not here’s more about him…in his own words.
“I have been involved in the game for approximately 35 years, ever since I started watching and playing in Birmingham. I developed a passion for the game through my father, and ever since I have found many roles in the game, at all levels, from playing (badly) at local league level in the West Midlands, to officiating in the game, then starting coaching at Stoke Basketball Club / Staffordshire University at 19 years old.
That decision to start coaching ultimately led me to this role working with Wales. I have followed a path working with Basketball England national teams, as a Team Manager, Assistant Coach and then Head Coach of England U16s from 2007 to 2011. That experience of European competition, then continuing to be involved in England development programmes up to 2014, led to an appointment with Wales U16s as Head Coach and a successful campaign at the 2018 U16 FIBA European Championships Division C . Alongside working with national teams, I have coached Club basketball from U16s to Senior Men, with Birmingham, Shropshire, Bromsgrove, Derby and Manchester.
My experiences within my professional career as a Sports Development Officer, provided me with an understanding of systems and structures. I am now the Academy Lead for British Wheelchair Basketball, working with the performance athletes, as well as having the honour of Team Managing the Senior Men’s Team – attending European and World Championships.
This role with Basketball Wales allows me to invest back into the sport I love, provide some guidance and advice to others. I won’t and don’t have all the answers, however I believe in a collaborative approach, as we can achieve more together. As we develop the programme for Wales, it is my belief we can together provide the structures to provide a positive experience for all, building on the excellent work that Cameron Seeley started.”
Basketball Wales would like to extent their thanks to Cameron Seeley for all his work and we wish him well in his new job and hopefully we will continue to see him at a support local and national basketball in Wales.
Basketball Wales takes to the airwaves with SW20 Radio
6 January 2021
We are delighted to announce that basketball news will be heard across the airwaves thanks to a new partnership between Basketball Wales and a new community online radio station SW20 Radio.
Commenting on today’s announcement Rhian Mackenzie, Communications Director at Basketball Wales said:
“It will be great to work with SW20 Radio to bringing basketball stories to more people across Wales. This will become the place to hear all the latest results from the South Wales and North Wales leagues as well as news of our junior and senior national teams and schools’ competitions.”
Also commenting on this new venture Barrie Jones co-founder of SW20 Radio said:
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Basketball Wales. We are all about bringing the community together and reporting on Welsh basketball results and events will raise awareness of this growing sport to our listeners.
We have music and a variety of shows for everyone and as basketball is a sport for all ages, the partnership seemed like the perfect match, this is a great opportunity for SW20 and we are excited about enjoying a lengthy relationship with Basketball Wales.”
There are several ways you can hear the great music, chat and now basketball news on SW20 Radio – online, by downloading the app and via smart speakers.
Basketball Wales welcomes new Chief Medical Officer
15 October 2020
Basketball Wales is delighted that Mr Stuart Roy, MBChB MPhil(Cantab) FRCSEd(Tr & Orth) is joining our team. He will be taking on the role of Chief Medical Officer.
He will be part of our performance group, advising our national team coaches and players as well as helping to shape our policies especially regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19) and our pathway to a return to play.
As part of his role, he has already worked with both Cardiff Met Archers women’s teams, ensuring that they are safe to resume contact basketball as they compete in the new WBBL season and in the Basketball England National Basketball League Division One.
Speaking on his new appointment, Stuart said: “I am very pleased to be undertaking the Chief Medical Officer role for Basketball Wales. I have a huge passion for sport, and this is a very exciting time to join as year on year basketball is growing in both popularity and participation across the whole of Wales.
I look forward to contributing to the development and success of the national teams and to help guide the Board in their decision-making.”
Stuart is currently a Consultant in Trauma and Orthopaedics at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital, specialising in sports injuries and all aspect of knee surgery. He is also a partner at Cardiff Sports Orthopaedics. This is a partnership of consultant orthopaedic surgeons based at Spire Cardiff Hospital in South Wales specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of bone, joint and musculoskeletal disorders including sports injuries, degenerative joint disease and arthritis.
Commenting on Stuart’s appointment; Stef Collins, Women and Girls Basketball Director said: “I am looking forward to working with Stuart and learning from him. As Chief Medical Officer he will be integral part of the team, as advisor in our governance development, working with myself, the Performance Director and our coaching staff as well as team managers and players.
His vast expertise and knowledge in sports treatment and prevention, and with the inclusion of multidisciplinary practitioners will be invaluable to Basketball Wales and for well-being of our players.”
Stuart Roy’s appointment is in a voluntary capacity.
Basketball Wales is delighted to continue working with GIVOVA and Eurologo Wales
14 December 2020
Since 2015, Basketball Wales national teams have been proudly wearing their GIVOVA kit at both international and domestic tournaments. And this is set to continue with a new multi-year partnership.
Kate Gordos, Basketball Wales Commercial Director said: “We are delighted to continue the great working partnership we have with GIVOVA, making sure our national team players have good quality, affordable kit to wear at training and to wear with pride when they are representing their country at tournaments. GIVOVA will also be providing clothing for our coaches, referees and table officials.”
Mr Giovani Acanfora, GIVOVA’s President stated: “We are honoured to continue the partnership with Basketball Wales. In this very complex historical moment, sport teaches us that we must never give up or stop. To aim high and overcome difficulties, commitment and work together are needed. GIVOVA will still and proudly support Basketball Wales, in the name of the healthy and shared values of sport. Good luck to all!”
None of this would be possible without the support of our retail partner Eurologo Wales, based in Bridgend, South Wales. They have been working with Basketball Wales for a few years and in that time, they have supplied national teams with everything they need.
Stephen Vickers from Eurologo added: “We’re looking forward to continuing working with Basketball Wales as their sole retail supplier. We have worked hard to make ordering kit easier by creating an online shop for players and officials as well as working with individual teams on bespoke items for trips and tournaments both at home and overseas.
As a company we love seeing players representing Wales with passion, wearing kit we have provided.
We have some exciting new products in the pipeline for players and supporters alike. Including providing kit to the U14, U16 and U18 boys with their new sponsor, Combine Academy.”
For more information about sponsorship opportunities on Basketball Wales kit, please email commercial@basketball.wales
Basketball Wales name DYNAMIK as their official sports flooring partners in a multi-year agreement
4 September 2020
DYNAMIK, leading UK indoor sports flooring specialists, have been appointed the official sports flooring partner to Basketball Wales for the next 5 years.
Commenting on this partnership, Basketball Wales CEO Gavin Williams said,
“We are excited to be entering into this partnership with DYNAMIK. We hold in high regard the benefits of this collaboration. DYNAMIK`s vast technical expertise in sports flooring is second to none, and the quality of their services and products are unrivalled. This is an extremely positive move forward to help further build on the successes of Welsh basketball.”
Craig Jack, Commercial Director for DYNAMIK Sport commented:
“Welcoming Basketball Wales to our family of NGB partners is something we are all extremely proud of.
Our team at DYNAMIK know how important it is to provide sporting NGBs, clubs, schools and leisure facilities with trusted advice on sports flooring installation and maintenance and aftercare.”
The partnership will ensure that there is dedicated and tailored support for the basketball community in Wales that includes advice on maintenance and facility standards. To strengthen the increasing popularity and participation of basketball in Wales, DYNAMIK will also be investing in the Welsh Schools National Tournament from September 2020, and the Annual National Awards event commencing August 2021.
For more information about this partnership please contact our Commercial Director, Kate Gordos commercial@basketball.wales
Wilson is the official basketball supplier for Basketball Wales
20 August 2020
Basketball Wales has appointed global brand Wilson Sports Goods Co as their official basketball supplier in a multi-year agreement. Commenting on this partnership, Gavin Williams, CEO of Basketball Wales said;
“We are thrilled to be continuing and developing our collaboration with Wilson. We place a high value on the importance of partnering with those who share our passion for basketball in Wales’ vision for the grassroots initiatives, our leagues, clubs and the national elite programmes are shared by Wilson. We look forward to working with them, to further build on the successes.”
Commenting on today’s announcement, Andy Medding, Wilson Team Sports UK & IRL said:
“We look forward to building upon our partnership with Basketball Wales and help support their basketball programmes and grassroot initiatives. We are excited to see Wilson basketball products support coaches and athletes at all levels across Wales for years to come.”