Although the Welsh netball team will not be lining up at this month’s World Cup in Liverpool, the team is about to embark on an exciting new era, according to stalwart Suzy Drane.
Despite their absence from the competition, Wales are facing their own intense series of matches over the next seven days. They face South Africa tomorrow and Friday, before taking on two more World-Cup bound teams - Malawi and Trinidad and Tobago - on Saturday and Sunday, both of which will be shown live on S4C. They complete their hectic schedule next Tuesday and Wednesday with two matches against Grenada.
The ground-breaking broadcasts will be the first time that live netball has been screened by S4C, with English commentary available on both matches.
Alongside Drake, Wales head coach Julie Hoornweg has selected eight uncapped players in her 15-strong squad, as they they bid to start building towards the Netball Europe tournament in September and the next Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Drane said: "We are obviously really disappointed that we are not going to the World Cup up in Liverpool. The World Cup is happening just up the road and we’ve had to live with that disappointment for 18 months. But we needed changes after the Commonwealth Games and we have gone through those.
"This is the start of our next four to eight-year cycle, which includes qualification for the next World Cup and the next Commonwealth Games. Those campaigns start here and now. You have to have a base line and so we are competing against the top teams who are going to feature in the World Cup."
Wales have slipped to 11th in the current world rankings, but will be looking to prove they are heading back to the top 10 by beating Trinidad and Tobabgo, in particular, who are ranked just one place above them.
Drane added: "All credit to our national governing body. They have confirmed some fantastic fixtures. It’s just what we needed as an international team because we’ve been training really hard since the October trials in readiness for Netball Europe, which is in September.
"It’s the start of something new and fresh, with eight uncapped players. It means some fresh thinking and lots of energy.
"Together with the experience, we can put a mix on the court that will allow us to measure ourselves against the top teams."
Both games get underway at 5.00pm, with live coverage starting at 4.45pm on S4C. The matches will also be available to watch live online at s4c.cymru/clic, the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook page (with Welsh commentary) and the S4C Youtube page (with English commentary).
Lauren Jenkins leads the S4C presentation team with courtside guest Cerys Bowen providing analysis. Gareth Roberts and Sarah Roberts will provide Welsh language commentary, while Lowri Morgan, Stephanie Parry and Clare Jones make up the English language commentary team.
Pêl Rwyd Rhyngwladol: Cymru v Malawi & Cymru v Trinidad & Tobago
Saturday 6 July, 4.45pm & Sunday 7 July, 4.45pm
English commentary
Available to watch live on S4C, S4C Clic, Facebook Live and Youtube
A Rondo Media production for S4C
