WALES TO GET OWN NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Basketball Wales has launched its first-ever national league competition.
With the first season of the Basketball Wales National League (BWNL) set to get underway in mid-October, the creation of this league will see basketball take on a national profile like never seen before in Wales, as eight men’s teams from across the country will do battle in the opening campaign.
Basketball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, but is already immensely popular in many communities throughout Wales, and Basketball Wales is excited to see what impact this National League has on further promoting and driving interest in the game across the country.
Initially forming with eight elite men’s teams, the ambition in the longer term is to welcome more teams to the men’s league, whilst also founding corresponding leagues for elite women’s and junior level players. Such is the quality of the current crop of players set to take part in the BWNL, players from the Wales national team squad will be amongst those plying their trade in the league this year.
Speaking as Basketball Wales officially launched the league, Basketball Wales Chairman Gavin Williams said:
“This is a huge step forward for the game in Wales, bringing some of our best coaches, teams and players together in one league. Our hope is that this will generate more interest in the game, and inspire people across the country to fall in the love with the sport of basketball, to take up the sport or to start playing again!
“The first season is shaping up to be very exciting, with representatives from across the country playing for the pride of their communities in Ynys Mon, Mold, Aberystwyth, the Rhondda, Cardiff, Bridgend and Cheshire.
“Best of luck to all of the teams competing, and I know I can speak for the whole of the basketball community in Wales when I say we can’t wait for the action to get started.”
James Morgans, the official Chairperson of the BWNL who previously coached Wales’ junior teams with distinction, added:
“Wales has strong fundamental foundations in basketball already, with two well-established and successful regional leagues in north and south Wales, but the BWNL will connect the country through basketball in a way it never has been before, providing an elite basketball league for the best teams in Wales.
“This is just the beginning for the BWNL, with eight excellent teams set to take part in our first season, but we have big ambitions for the future to grow this men’s league and develop women’s and junior equivalents, showcasing to the nation just how much exciting talent we have in Wales.”
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