PICKLEBALL pioneers from Torfaen will play the first ever Wales v England fixture in Oxford today before flying out to Spain for the European Championships next month.

The racquet sport, played in the USA since the mid-1960s, is gaining in popularity in Europe but is still in its infancy in this country with just two groups – in Cwmbran and Pontypool – taking part.

Pickleball is a sport in which two or four players use solid paddles, like large table tennis bats, to hit a perforated plastic ball over a net.

Played on a badminton court, the net and rules are similar to tennis but it is less energetic and therefore accessible for all ages.

“The Cwmbran Stadium group continues to grow with at least 20 players taking part every Tuesday and Thursday morning, playing from 10am to midday,” said organiser John Price.

“All new players are welcome to come and try the sport.

“There is also a group at Pontypool Leisure Centre on a Thursday evening from 7pm to 8pm.”

The Cwmbran group travel to Oxford today to play an English team in the village of Kidlington.

“This could be classed as the first match between England and Wales at pickleball,” added Price.

“And we will also meet some of this team in Madrid when we take part in the European championships.”

More than 200 players will be competing over three age categories (19 to 50, 50 to 65 and over-65) in the Spanish capital with 12 countries being represented in total.

The Welsh team is comprised of four couples – Bernard and Paulette Powell, John and Janet Price, Richard and Marilyn Strangemore and Richard and Jane Welsford – who are all funding their own flights and accommodation.

They will take part in the women’s, men’s and mixed doubles in the over-65 age group on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20.

Richard and Jane Welsford from Usk are the parents of Wales hockey captain Abi Welsford who recently won her 100th cap before leading the team to a fifth-place finish in the EuroHockey Championships Division Two in Prague.