Australia selects teams for Hong Kong and New Zealand trips in late 2024
Bowls Australia’s (BA) National Selection Panel has selected the teams that will travel overseas for some of the world’s most illustrious annual competitions.
Those events being the Burnside Under-26 Singles in New Zealand along with the Hong Kong International Classic and the World Bowls Junior Indoor Championships (Under-25’s), also in Hong Kong.
October’s tournament in New Zealand will see New South Wales’ Right at Home Emerging Jackaroo Kate Matthews make the trip across the Tasman with Western Australia’s Jack East.
Both played and performed in exemplary fashion at last week’s National Development Series (NDS) and will continue a tradition of Australian representatives at the competition, with Nick Cahill and Kira Bourke participating in 2023.
Bourke has earned a call up for December’s World Bowls event in Hong Kong and will be accompanied by Queensland’s Kane Nelson.
Both are in strong form, with Bourke a part of the winning team at the NDS and reaching the women’s fours final at the 2024 Australian Open, while Nelson also performed with distinction at Club Tweed last week as he looks to build on a strong 2024 so far.
The green and gold regalia has enjoyed success at the tournament over the last two years, with Brianna Smith taking singles gold in 2022 in Belfast and Nathan Black conquering the men’s discipline in East Kilbride last year.
Smith has been one of the four selected to make the trip to the prestigious Hong Kong International Classic in November and will partner with Emerging Jackaroo and recent Australian Open women’s pairs runner up Jessie Cottell.
The men’s team that will head to the Asian island will be Jackaroo Cody Packer and Emerging squad member Kyle Hansen.
Packer’s form has been scintillating, progressing to the quarterfinals of the men’s singles and fours quarterfinals at the Australian Open last month, as well as the semifinals of the pairs.
Taren Point’s Hansen was in action during last week’s NDS and showed tremendous signs for the future that will hold him in good stead come November.
BA National Coach Gary Willis is thrilled with the selected players and looks forward to seeing how each of them handles the rigours of competition abroad.
“I am ecstatic with the players that will be representing our nation at these three prestigious events that will provide many of them with a sensational taste of tournament play abroad,” Willis said.
“We have traditionally sent players over to take part in these competitions and are thrilled to continue it in 2024 as they will gain invaluable experience.
“To be able to take part is a great honour so we look forward to seeing all eight selected players putting their best foot forward as they strive to further develop their skills and careers.”
Burnside Under 26 Singles – Christchurch, New Zealand October 3-6th 2024
- Kate Matthews (Raymond Terrace – NSW)
- Jack East (Osborne Park – WA)
Hong Kong International Classic – 7-17th November 2024
- Brianna Smith (St Johns Park – NSW) & Jessie Cottell (Cabramatta – NSW)
- Kyle Hansen (Taren Point – NSW) & Cody Packer (Merrylands – NSW)
World Bowls Junior Indor championships – Hong Kong – 1st-9th December 2024
- Kira Bourke (Club Tweed – QLD)
- Kane Nelson (Capalaba – QLD)
