WELSH boxers Sean McGoldrick, Joe Cordina, Andrew Selby and Ashley Williams have all been named in the British Lionhearts squad.

The quartet, who all represented Wales at last year’s Commonwealth Games, will compete for Great Britain on its return to the World Series of Boxing (WSB) in 2015.

The squad is made-up of 30 boxers from GB Boxing’s Podium and Podium Potential squads and eight overseas selections in accordance with WSB regulations.

The team’s first home match is at York Hall in London on Thursday against the China Dragons, when Williams will compete at light-flyweight.

Tickets will be for sale on the door and cost £10 for adults, £5 for children and £20 for a family of four.

McGoldrick, Cordina and Williams all won bronze in Glasgow while Selby, who also competed at London 2012, is a two-time European Champion and has won silver and bronze at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships respectively.

Selby is the number two flyweight in the International Boxing Association’s (AIBA) world rankings and the top rated boxer at his weight in WSB, with a record of nine wins and no defeats, after competing for the British Lionhearts in 2012-13 and Italia Thunder in 2013-14.

The squad will train at GB Boxing’s purpose-built facility at the English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) and be prepared and led by Rob McCracken who has been named as the head coach of the British Lionhearts in addition to his responsibilities as performance director of GB Boxing.

The programme of WSB fixtures will be integrated into the calendar of activity for the GB Boxing squad as part of its preparation and training for Rio 2016.

The decision to re-start the British Lionhearts franchise and participate in WSB has been made in conjunction with UK Sport, which is supporting the venture with investment and technical support delivered by its Major Events team.

“The number of Olympics qualification places available through WSB has increased, so it is important that our boxers take part in the competition to give them as many chances as possible to make it to Rio 2016,” explained Rob McCracken.

“WSB is a high quality competition and a slightly different format to that which some of our squad are used to, however the last time we participated, the boxers really enjoyed it and felt it was a very beneficial experience that had a positive impact on their development and performance.”

Thursday’s fixture will be followed by away fixtures against the Ukraine Otamans in Kiev on January 23 and the Morocco Atlas Lions in Casablanca on January 30.