Today marks a milestone moment in Team England's journey to Glasgow 2026, as we proudly announce the first athletes selected to represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games this July.

From training grounds across the nation to the international stage, each athlete has earned their place through relentless dedication, breakthrough moments, and an unshakeable belief in what's possible.

A Legacy Sport Returns with a Fresh Twist

A 14-strong bowls and para bowls squad has been confirmed, comprised of six athletes for the bowls competition alongside six para-athletes and two directors for the para bowls competition. The 2026 Commonwealth Games marks a distinct shift in the competition, with the sport moving indoors for the first time in its Commonwealth Games history.

The Scottish Event Campus, along the River Clyde, will host the sport which has appeared at all but one Commonwealth Games and remains one of the six original sports from 1930.

Experience Meets Fresh Talent

Seven players return to the squad having represented Team England at the Birmingham 2022 Games, including gold medallist Nick Brett. Brett won gold in the men's triples and bronze in the men's fours in Birmingham, and heads to Glasgow with an impressive indoor record that includes seven world indoor golds. He is joined by former world indoor singles champion Jamie Walker, who won pairs silver in Birmingham, and four-time Commonwealth medallist Sam Tolchard.

The women's team welcomes two returning bowlers from Birmingham 2022, with Sian Honnor set to compete at a fifth consecutive Games. Honnor has medalled at each of her last four Games, including women's triples gold in both 2014 and 2022. She is joined by four-time medallist and World Bowls Hall of Fame inductee Amy Pharaoh, who also returns for her fifth Commonwealth Games having first represented Team England at Manchester 2002. Seven-time world indoor champion Rednall is also selected, having previously won bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast Games.


Para Bowls: Breaking New Ground

Four bowlers will compete in the B6-8 para bowls competition, including debutants Joe Peplow and Helen Wood. Peplow is joined in the men’s competition by Kieran Rollings, who won pairs bronze at Birmingham 2022. Wood is joined by Michelle White, who finished fourth at Birmingham 2022.

Two bowlers have been selected for the B2-6 competition for visually impaired athletes. Ron Homer, who was awarded a British Empire Medal in the 2026 New Years’ Honours, will compete at his first Games alongside director Sue Davies. Fellow debutant Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall has also been selected, alongside her director Elizabeth Shipley.

In Their Own Words

Jamie Walker shared what representing Team England means: "It means everything to represent your country, especially in a huge sporting event like the Commonwealth Games. It's great for bowls especially that we get to be on the top stage with other sporting athletes."

For para bowler Helen Wood, this selection represents a dream fulfilled: "It is a dream come true. Being able to represent your country as a para-international has always been an honour. I'm just so proud to be given the opportunity. I thought it would never come because it's always been an outdoor event for the Commonwealth Games and I only play indoors, so this is the first opportunity that's come to try and get in."

A Legacy of Excellence

Team England is the most successful nation in the history of bowls and para bowls, winning 21 golds, 11 silvers, and 23 bronzes across the competition's history. Team England won the most medals - seven - at the 2022 Birmingham Games and finished third in the medal table with two golds, two silvers, and three bronzes.

Team England Chef de Mission, Jonathon Riall, said: "I am delighted to welcome our first confirmed members of Team England for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Bowls and para bowls are at the heart of the Commonwealth Games, having been one of six original sports back in 1930, and the sport has seen incredible success throughout the years. The squad selected for the 2026 Games is a celebration of Team England's rich history with several returning medallists, and its diversity with athletes of a range of ages and backgrounds ready to take to the greens."

Mo Monkton, Bowls England Performance Director, added: "We are delighted to be a part of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games programme. England have always shone on the Commonwealth Games stage, and we have no doubt that our squad will follow in the footsteps of those before them. Our eyes are firmly on the podium, and we will work hard to ensure that we make the country proud throughout this prestigious event—the biggest within our sports' calendar. I ask everyone to get behind the team as they set their sights on gold and along the way, inspire the next generation of Commonwealth Games bowlers."

As we count down to July and the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, athletes from sports across the board will join Team England, each bringing their own stories of determination and ambition. Together, they'll show the world what it means to be Ready to Win - not just on the podium, but in every training session, every setback overcome, and every moment they inspire the next generation.

Follow Team England's journey as we celebrate the grit, the glory, and everything in between.

Team England bowls and para bowls squad

Bowls squad (6)

Men 

Nick Brett, 51, Peterborough 

Sam Tolchard, 36, Torquay 

Jamie Walker, 34, Devon

Non-travelling reserve: Dominic McVittie, 32, Lincolnshire

Women Sian Honnor, 38, Whitstable 

Amy Pharaoh, 46, Grimsby 

Katherine Rednall, 30, Ipswich

Non-travelling reserve: Nicole Rogers, 28, Devon

Para bowls squad (8)

Para Bowls B6-8 

Joe Peplow, 66, Malvern

Kieran Rollings, 26, Kettering 

Michelle White, 51, Hertfordshire 

Helen Wood, 59, Leicestershire

Para Bowls B2/3 

Ron Homer BEM, 73, Yeovil 

Sue Davies (director), 69, Broadway 

Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall, 52, Earl Shilton 

Elizabeth Shipley (director), 27, Hinckley