Team Wales To Send 39-Strong Squad To Commonwealth Youth Games

Wales will send a 39-strong team to compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.

The event – featuring swimming, athletics, boxing, judo, tennis and women’s rugby 7s – takes place from July 18-23.

The Team Wales party will include a 12-strong sevens squad which will be announced later to join the 27 youngsters named for the individual sports.

The competition will give the next generation of Wales’ sporting stars the vital experience of international competition – as it did for the likes of two-time Olympic silver medallist Jazz Carlin in swimming and Olympic and world cycling champ Elinor Barker.

Commonwealth Games Wales Chair Helen Phillips said: “We are really excited to announce the Team Wales squad for the sixth Youth Games in the Bahamas.

“It’s very encouraging to see the calibre of young Welsh athletes coming through.

“This is testament to their commitment, passion and dedication and also to the excellent support of their coaches, families and national governing bodies.

“The Youth Games are a great platform for them on their road to future success as senior athletes.

“Several Welsh stars who have gone on to medal at the Commonwealth Games in the past, and many athletes who are now aiming to qualify for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games – such as Jazz Carlin and Elinor Barker – began their careers representing Wales at the Youth Games.

“Team Wales did particularly well in the 2015 Youth Games in Samoa, bringing home 9 medals to Wales and delivering some outstanding performances.

“I have every confidence that our athletes will do their very best and make us proud once again this summer.”

Gerwyn Owen, Chef de Mission leading Team Wales to the Commonwealth Youth Games in July said: “I’d like to extend a big congratulations to all of the selected athletes.

“Many of them will get to represent Wales in a major multi-sport event for the very first time, which will no doubt give them a great sense of pride.

“It’s a massive opportunity for them to showcase Wales at its best both on and off the field, and to celebrate our national culture and heritage through sport.”

He added: “It’s particularly exciting that the Women’s Rugby 7s have been selected to represent Wales at the Youth Games this year.

“With the development of the sport in Wales over recent years it looks promising that the Welsh side will do well in the Bahamas.”

ATHLETICS:
Bethany Moule (16, Neath Port Talbot)
James Tomlinson (17, Pembrokeshire)
Lauren Evans (16, Cardiff)
Naomi Reid (16, Rhondda Cynon Taf)
Oliver Barbaresi (17, Gwynedd)
Sarah Omoregie (17, Cardiff)

BOXING:
Jacob Lovell (17, Cardiff)
James Probert (16, Pembrokeshire)
Jay Munn (18, Cardiff)
John Wilson (17, Conwy)
Rhys Edwards (17, Cardiff)
Sammy Lee (18, Cardiff)

JUDO:
Callum Bennett (14, Carmarthenshire)
Ffion Robinson (14, Carmarthenshire)
Sam Ashton (17, Rhondda Cynon Taf)

SWIMMING:
Connor Bryan (16, Oxfordshire)
Elena Morgan (14, Flintshire)
Hannah Sloan (16, Vale of Glamorgan)
Iestyn Cole (17, Carmarthenshire)
Ioan Evans (15, Bridgend)
Joseph Small (16, Shropshire)
Lewis Fraser (16, Swansea)
Medi Harris (14, Gwynedd)
Megan Allison (15, Monmouthshire)
Rebecca Sutton (16, Bridgend)
TENNIS:
James Story (16, Cardiff)
Morgan Cross (15, Flintshire)