From 1-3 November, Wanderers will be in Malta for the first round of the LEN Challenger Cup – the first Welsh team to sample European competition since the glory days of Maindee Olympic, who were triple champions of the National League, precursor of BWPL, in the early 1980s.
After Malta, ten Wanderers players - Jack Sanders, Matthew Griffiths, Joe Jenkins-Delf, Lewis Gilmour, Jack Montgomery, Lloyd Pittick, Ieuan Carter, Adam Jerrett, Ceri Griffiths and Matthew Kelly – travel directly to the Czech Republic to represent Wales in the EU Nations competition. Also in the Wales squad are two more Wanderers players not in Malta – Oli and Toby Chilcott.
Once that’s all done, Wanderers will be back on familiar territory at Coventry on 30 November/1 December for the finale of the BWPL men’s Division 1 schedule.
In Malta, Wanderers are in a group also featuring comprising Vitoria Sport Clube, of Portugal, Finland’s Cetus Espoo (Wanderers lost 25-11) and GZC Donk, of the Netherlands. The trip has been made possible thanks to generous support from several sponsors - notably Mon Motors Ltd, Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd, Carter Fruit & Veg and Bibado & The Tuning Room. Look out for live streaming of the games via https://euroaquaticstv.com/.
Photo: Adam Jerrett (Photo: Trevor Hyde) captains Wales, who will be coached by Mike Davies, brother of Nigel, the Wanderers’ coach.