Wales look to break England's dominance in the home nations championships

Gary Baker on 24/06/2012

Players from across Great Britain will be in Cardiff next month for the highlight of the Petanque season - the Home Nations Championships.

The tournament, first held at the Millennium Stadium 12 years ago, is being held on July 21 and 22 at Monkstone Petanque Club, who use the Pen-Y-Lan Club, Roath, Cardiff.

The Championships comprise national squads of eight mixed teams of four players from across Wales, England and Scotland, and was held in Nottingham last year.

It is the finale of a series of four Grand Prix competitions in which teams battle to secure places on major events, of which the Home Nations tournament is one of them.

As such, Petanque clubs from Cardiff sides Monkstone Inn, Rumney, Wenvoe, The Barn in Llantrisant, Caerleon, who are representing Newport, Penarth and Llanhennock have qualified as Wales' teams for the big events.

Welsh Petanque Association publicity officer Judith Smith said: "The event (Home Nations) is the highlight of the playing calendar and a very good event for people to come and watch and fiend out what we are all about."

The series of events also establishes the team or teams who will represent Wales in either the World or European Championships and also the additional competitions that Wales will be invited to compete in by other associations and federations in Europe and further abroad.

World Petanque Association president Jean-Yves Robic thinks Wales have an advantage in the Home Nations next month but face stiff opposition.

He said: "Being on home ground, Wales, obviously, hope to win but England have taken the title on the last 12 occasions.

"The closest Wales have got to winning the title was in Swansea in 2009 where England beat them to first place by five games.

"Wales were second in 2011 and (also in) Scotland in 2010. So there is everything to fight for in 2012."

back to article index