Billy selected for third Commonwealth Games
Team Bath netballer Billy Pritchard is set to compete at her third Commonwealth Games after being named in the Wales team for Glasgow 2014.
It completes an impressive comeback for the 35-year-old, who returned to Team Bath colours for the 2014 Superleague season after a seven-year break.
The defender played for Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games – the only two Games at which her country’s netball team were represented.
And although she had initially ruled out a return to the Welsh team for Glasgow 2014, she found the call from her country difficult to resist.
Ecstatic and overwhelmed
“I’m absolutely ecstatic and overwhelmed,” said the mother-of-two, who impressed in her return to Superleague action for Team Bath this season.
“I never thought I’d find myself in this position, but I’m honored to be able to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games.
“Welsh Netball have been fantastically supportive and the girls have made me feel very welcome into a very tight-knit group,” added the former Welsh captain.
“I want to recognise and sincerely thank all the players and coaches at Team Bath as it goes without saying that without their amazing help and support I would not have this opportunity.”
Pritchard joined Team Bath in 2002 in the days of the Super Cup – the forerunner to the Superleague – and captained the Team Bath side that won the first two Superleague titles in 2006 and 2007.
She then moved to work in New Zealand, where she continued to play netball. On her return to the UK she helped out with coaching duties for Team Bath in the 2013 season alongside playing for fun with London’s Clan Club.
She trialled for Team Bath Toucans for the 2014 season, but her impressive performances earned her a place in the Superleague squad.
European champions
Pritchard earned a place in the Welsh team that won the European Championships in May to book a place at next year’s World Championships in Australia.
She is joined in the Welsh squad for Glasgow by former Team Bath player Kelly Morgan, who featured in Team Bath’s 2013 Superleague winning squad.
They bring the number of netballers with University of Bath links selected for Glasgow to three, following the selection of graduate Gemma Sole by Scotland.
Four members of Team Bath’s 2014 squad and eight former Team Bath players featured in England’s 18-strong long squad for the Games, which is due to be reduced to a final squad of 12 next month.
Team Bath are the most successful team in the history of the Superleague, having won five of the nine Superleague campaigns contested to date.
Some 58 athletes with University of Bath links have now been selected to compete at the Games. They will represent eight countries in 10 sports.
For further information please contact the Team Bath press office at Matchtight Ltd on 01225 383518 or press@matchtight.co.uk.
