The Wales national badminton team () represents Wales in international badminton team competitions. It is controlled by Badminton Wales, the national organization for badminton in the country. Wales have never participated in the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup. The team's last appearance in the international stage was at the 2007 Sudirman Cup.
The Welsh team had participated in the 2020 European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships but were defeated in the group stage.
History Badminton has been played in Wales since the early 1920s. Welsh players then competed in the All England Open Badminton Championships and the Welsh International Championships. In 1928, Badminton Wales (then called the Welsh Badminton Union) was formed. Wales was also one of the nine founder members of the Badminton World Federation.
The Welsh national team competed in their first ever international team event when its first few players were sent to qualify for the 1955 Thomas Cup.
Former national player Chris Rees was selected to be the performance coach of the Welsh national badminton team in 2020.
Men's team The Welsh men's team first competed in the 1955 Thomas Cup qualifiers. The team failed to advance to the inter-zone elimination round after losing 9−0 to Denmark on home soil. The men's team returned to qualify for the 1984 Thomas Cup after a long hiatus. The team beat Finland and the Netherlands 4−1 but lost their chances of entering the second round after losing 4−1 to Sweden. In the qualifiers for the 1986 Thomas Cup, the team won against Finland and Norway but failed to advance further after losing to England.
In the 1990 Thomas Cup qualifiers, the Welsh team made history after they advanced to the semi-final stages for the first time, beating Bulgaria, Spain and Kenya in their group. They then lost to Sweden and Canada in the semi-final stages and failed to edge out against Austria.
The Welsh team competed in the inaugural edition of the European Men's Team Badminton Championships in 2006 but were halted in the group stage. They showed improvement two years later in the 2008 European Men's Team Badminton Championships by not only advancing to the quarter-finals but also topping the group for the very first time. The team were defeated by Germany in the quarter-finals.
Women's team The Welsh women's team took part in qualifying for the 1986 Uber Cup. The team lost in the first round group stage to Germany, England and Ireland. In the 1996 Uber Cup qualifiers, the team entered the second round after beating Slovenia, Austria and Spain but lost in the second round group stage to Denmark, Scotland and India. The women's team entered the second round for the next few Uber Cup qualifiers but did not advance further.
The women's team also competed in the 2006 European Women's Team Badminton Championships. They failed to get past the group stages.
Mixed team The Welsh mixed team first competed in the 1969 Helvetia Cup and finished in 5th place. In the 1970 Helvetia Cup, the Welsh team beat Norway in the third place tie. The team also competed in the inaugural edition of the European Mixed Team Badminton Championships in 1972 but were eliminated in the group stages. The team were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 1974 European Mixed Team Championships.
The Welsh team made history by entering the 1983 Helvetia Cup. They lost the final to Germany. The team entered the Helvetia Cup finals two consecutive times in 1985 and 1987 but lost to the Netherlands and Germany respectively.
Competitive record
Thomas Cup YearRound1949Did not enter19521955Did not qualify1958Did not enter196119641967197019731976197919821984Did not qualify19861988199019921994199619982000200220042006200820102012Did not enter2014Did not qualify2016Did not enter20182020Did not qualify20222024TBD202620282030
Uber Cup YearRound1957Did not enter1960196319661969197219751978198119841986Did not qualify1988199019921994199619982000200220042006200820102012Did not enter2014Did not qualify2016Did not enter20182020Did not qualify20222024TBD202620282030
Sudirman Cup YearRound1989Did not enter19911993Group stage29th1995Group stage28th1997Group stage26th1999Group stage23rd2001Group stage20th2003Group stage19th2005Group stage24th2007Group stage30th2009Did not enter20112013201520172019202120232025TBD20272029
Commonwealth Games
Men's team YearRound1998Group stage11th
Women's team YearRound1998Group stage13th
Mixed team YearRound1978Group stage9th1982Did not enter1986Group stage8th1990Did not enter1994Group stage8th2002Group stage7th2006Did not enter2010Group stage10th2014Group stage13th2018Did not enter20222026TBD
European Team Championships
Men's team YearRound2004Group stage17th2006Group stage9th2008Quarter-finals8th2010Group stage20th2012Did not enter2014Group stage24th2016Withdrew2018Did not enter2020Group stage29th2024Did not enter2026TBD20282030
Women's team YearRound2004Group stage10th2006Group stage28th2008Group stage26th2010Group stage13th2012Did not enter2014Group stage15th2016Withdrew2018Did not enter2020Group stage29th2024Did not enter2026TBD20282030
Mixed team YearRound1972Group stage10th1974Group stage7th1976Group stage9th1978Group stage10th1980Group stage9th1982Group stage10th1984Quarter-finals8th1986Quarter-finals8th1988Group stage9th1990Group stage11th1992Group stage11th1994Group stage9th1996Group stage10th1998Group stage13th2000Group stage11th2002Group stage10th2004Group stage11th2006Group stage16th2008Did not enter2009Group stage28th2011Group stage23rd2013Group stage28th2015Did not enter201720192021Did not qualify2023Did not enter2025TBD20272029
Helvetia Cup YearRound1962Did not enter1963196419651966196719681969Fifth place5th1970Third place3rd1971Group stage8th1973Group stage8th1975Group stage5th1977Group stage6th1979Fourth place4th1981Third place3rd1983Runners-up2nd1985Runners-up2nd1987Runners-up2nd1989Fourth place4th1991Fourth place4th1993Group stage10th1995Did not enter199719992001200320052007 **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Junior competitive record Suhandinata Cup
YearRound2000Did not enter2002200420062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202220232024TBD
Commonwealth Youth Games Mixed team YearRound2004Did not enter
European Junior Team Championships
Mixed team YearRound1975Group stage11th1977Did not enter1979Group stage12th1981Group stage7th1983Group stage8th1985Group stage8th1987Group stage11th1989Group stage12th1991Group stage12th1993Group stage9th1995Group stage16th1997Did not qualify199920012003200520072009Group stage18th2011Group stage29th2013Group stage21st2015Did not enter20172018202020222024TBD
Finlandia Cup
Mixed team YearRound1984Fourth place4th1986Group stage9th1988Group stage5th1990Group stage5th1992Group stage5th1994Did not enter1996Group stage7th1998Group stage8th2000Group stage10th2002Group stage19th2004Group stage8th2006Group stage15th **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Staff The following list shows the coaching staff for the national badminton of Wales. +NameRole Daniel FontHead coach Luke BaileySupport coach Chris ReesPerformance coach
Players
Current squad
Men's team NameDoB/AgeRanking of eventMSMDXDAndrew Oates -941478Archie Bult 988 - -Andrew Jones -1229 -Adam Stewart -1229 -Mebel Mano Kurian 1217 1181 -Jewel Mano Varughese 1561 1181 -Harper Leigh 1195 - -Scott Oates -941 -
Women's team NameDoB/AgeRanking of eventWSWDXDJordan Hart 535 - -Jessica Ding1134 - -Learna Herkes - - -Jasmine Owen - - -Aimie Whiteman - - -Saffron Morris373336478Alice Palmer - - -Katie Whiteman - - -
Previous squads
Sudirman Cup
2007
European Team Championships
Men's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020 Women's team: 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2020 Mixed team: 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013
References