Bowls: New Zealand team named for Commonwealth Games

New Zealand's Jo Edwards. Photo / Greg Bowker

Bowls New Zealand has named the 10 athletes that will represent the country at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Among the team is defending Commonwealth Games singles champion Jo Edwards, who will be attending her fourth games.

Edwards, who won gold medals in Manchester (2002) and Glasgow (2014), has been training in Brisbane in preparation for this year's games.

"The greens on the Gold Coast are different to home so it doesn't do any harm being based here and getting to know them," Edwards said.

"There's good competition here as well so that's driving me and helping with preparation,"

Ali Forsyth, who has represented New Zealand at the Commonwealth games twice before, says he expects the team to perform well in the Gold Coast.

"The New Zealand team won seven medals out of a possible eight at the 2016 World Championships so that's given us a great deal of confidence," Forsyth said.

"I believe we can medal in close to all four of the men's events on the Gold Coast if we get on the greens as much as we can between now and April."

Making their return to the games are Ali Forsyth, Blake Signal, Paul Girdler, Shannon McIlroy (world singles champion), Mandy Boyd (Glasgow 2014 bronze, women's fours) and Val Smith (Delhi 2010 silver, singles; Glasgow 2014 bronze, women's fours).

Tayla Bruce, Katelyn Inch and Mike Nagy will be making their Commonwealth Games debuts in the Gold Coast.

New Zealand has won 38 bowls medals at the Commonwealth Games, including 12 golds.

The lawn bowls competition will run from April 5 to April 13.

Full team:

Ali Forsyth – Men's Fours/Men's Triples
Blake Signal – Men's Pairs/Men's Fours
Mike Nagy – Men's Triple/Men's Fours
Paul Girdler – Men's Triples/Men's Fours
Shannon McIlroy – Men's Singles/Men's Pairs
Jo Edwards – Women's Singles/Women's Pairs
Katelyn Inch – Women's Triples/Women's Fours
Mandy Boyd – Women's Triples/Women's Fours
Tayla Bruce – Women's Triples/Women's Fours
Val Smith – Women's Pairs/Women's Fours