Less than 100 days to go until Team Wales compete at Trinbago 2023 

The 7th Commonwealth Youth Games will be held this summer after it was postponed in 2021 due to the pandemic. The excitement has been building rapidly as athletes across the country are preparing for their first taste of the Commonwealth Games. 

The Games, which takes place in the twin island nation of Trinidad and Tobago from 4-11 August will see 44 international teams, representing 23 nations around the Commonwealth compete across seven sports, giving youth athletes an opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable experience on the international stage. 

The sports include; Aquatics (Swimming), Athletics and Para Athletics, Cycling (Road Race, Time Trial and Track) and Triathlon which will be held in Trinidad, with FAST5 Netball, Rugby Sevens and Beach Volleyball being hosted on the Tobago Island. 

This will be the first time ever for the FAST5 Netball competition at a Commonwealth Games, and para sport has been integrated into the Youth Games competition schedule for the first time in history, with Athletics introducing the Discus, Long Jump and 100m into the programme. 

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has also announced the nations selected for the team sports events, and Team Wales were successful in the Women’s Rugby Sevens. 

Wales Women’s Rugby Sevens team made history at the last Youth Games in Bahamas 2017, winning Wales’ first ever team sport medal (Bronze) at a Commonwealth Games. 

Richie Pugh, WRU Sevens Head Coach said ‘’To be part of a Youth Commonwealth Games and Represent Team Wales is such an exciting opportunity for our young female athletes. To experience a multisport event and go up against some of the best u18 rugby players in the world is such a huge honour and challenge. It has proved in the past to be a great development opportunity with the likes of  Gwen Crabb, Lleucu George, Bethan Lewis (currently in the Womens 6 Nations Squad) and Kayleigh Powell (current Team GB 7s player) all winning Bronze in the 2017 Bahamas YCWG.’’ 

Wales, alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Fiji and Kenya will take on defending champions Australia in the women’s competition. All games will take place at the Shaw Park Cultural recreational field on 6-8 August. 

Team Wales Chef de Mission Matt Cosgrove added ‘The CYG is a fantastic opportunity for young athletes to experience a multi-Games environment. We have some exciting young talent within the sports and I look forward to seeing how they perform on this stage. We will ensure that everything is in place to help them perform at their best’