International and Representative Schedule for 2023

After a couple of years of debate which has generated a wide range of comments and speculation, the Home nations have agreed a competition schedule and format for the 2023 season which includes senior and junior internationals, British Isles Championships and an under 18 Test Series. Following this agreement the IBA has finalised the international and representative programme for the forthcoming season:

   – Senior Inter Association Championships – 26/27th May at Belmont BC

   – Senior International Trial(s) – Belmont BC – date and times to be confirmed

   – British Isles Championships – 28/29th June – Northfield, Ayr

   – British Isles Senior International Series – 30th June – 2nd July – Northfield, Ayr

   – Junior Inter Association Series – 14/15th July – Belmont BC

   – Under 18 Test Series – 5/6 August – Wales

   – World Championships – 29th August – 10th September – Gold Coast, Australia

   – British Isles Junior International Series – 16/17th September – Llandrindod Wells, Wales

The British Isles Senior International Series returns for the first time since 2019 with a new format. The event will see each country field 2 teams of 10 to participate in a multi-discipline event featuring singles, pairs, triples and fours played under World Bowls conditions. Jersey will field one team and an additional team will be invited to make it a 10 team tournament. The participants will be divided into 2 sections and the 2 group winners will compete in the final.

The British Isles Championships will the precede the International Series and will adopt the traditional format. However to ensure uniformity across all of the Home Nations it has been agreed that the pairs, triples and fours events will be played over 18 ends.

Following a largely positive feedback from the 2022 event, the Junior International Series will continue in the same format with three rinks of men and three rinks of women. Titles will again be awarded to men, women and combined.

In the last two seasons Ireland have played under 18 Test matches with Scotland and Wales. England have agreed to compete in 2023 to make it a four Nation International Series event.

The 2023 season will be the first time in four years since we have been able to schedule a full programme of international and representative events. All of these events are important stepping stones as Neil Booth and the High Performance team and International Selectors  prepare for the ever increasing number events in the World Bowls calendar