This weekend marks an exciting milestone in the player development space as the inaugural 1–5 Year Winter Quad gets underway, bringing together emerging representative sides from Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, and Thames Valley.

While there’s no silverware up for grabs, the true rewards lie in the experience gained, the pride of pulling on centre colours, and the connections forged on and off the green. For many players, this will be their first taste of representative bowls—a crucial stepping stone in their journey.

Selectors will be watching closely, with performances helping to shape future squads and identify those ready to take the next step.

Weather permitting, the Auckland side will hit the road for a rare away fixture, travelling to Cambridge Bowling Club—a return to intercentre travel not seen in recent years for the 1–5 group. Supporters making the day trip can expect passionate sideline energy, high-quality match play, and moments that remind us just how important grassroots development is to the game’s future.

A huge thank you to Bowls Waikato and Cambridge Bowling Club for hosting this fresh initiative. Bowls Auckland 1-5s are buzzing to travel and represent their centre with pride. Game on!