COLLINS, JJ TO COACH COMMONWEALTHS

Basketball England has named head coaches for Team England’s 3×3 medal mission at Birmingham 2022.

Stef Collins and Julius Joseph will lead the women’s and men’s teams respectively.  

The 3×3 form of the game will be a new part of the Commonwealth Games for the first time next year, with England already qualified as the host nation.

And BE’s Technical and Talent Performance Manager Steve Bucknall believes he has selected a duo – both Commonwealth Games medal winners for England – with the pedigree and mentality to be successful. 

“These two are both winners,” said Bucknall, a teammate of Joseph when England’s men claimed bronze in 2006. 

“They have the pedigree and experience in the game and know what it means to be successful. 

“We looked at some very high-calibre candidates to fill these important roles and I am confident the two we have selected can handle the pressure and have the right personalities to lead our mission in Birmingham, which is to win medals.” 

Collins, Great Britain’s record caps holder, represented GB as a player at the 2012 London Olympics Games, and was part of the England team that claimed silver at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealths. 

She has coached the Cardiff Met Archers in the WBBL since 2014. 

Joseph had a lengthy and successful professional playing career in the BBL and Europe, claiming a medal at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games as well as representing GB. He is one of the leading lights in the UK 3×3 scene having a run the successful Ball Out UK tour for almost a decade. 

The pair will lead a Team England training camp at Manchester’s National Basketball Performance Centre next month ahead of two squads of four players being entered into the qualifier for the Europe Cup in Romania later in June under the guise of Great Britain. 

BE is collaborating with GB Basketball to help prepare Team England for 2022.  

GB have entered male and female teams made up of England players at two FIBA events this year – the Europe Cup qualifier and the Under-23 League of Nations.  

Basketball England will select and run the teams, using the tournaments as part of the Team England player selection process and preparation for the Games.

Image: BE