Commonwealth Games Australia has unveiled a powerhouse Bowls squad for Glasgow 2026, blending proven champions and in-form contenders as it looks to extend Australia’s proud medal-winning legacy on the international stage.
Dual gold medallist from Birmingham 2022 Ellen Fife headlines the squad, bringing invaluable experience and proven success at the highest level. Fife etched her own name into the history books at those Games, becoming the first player in Commonwealth Games history to win gold in both the singles and pairs at the same edition, as well as becoming Australia’s first bowls gold medallist on UK soil.
She now returns for her second Commonwealth Games aiming to join the elite company of David Bryant, Mark Edwards and Aaron Wilson as a back-to-back singles champion, as Australia targets another strong showing in Glasgow.
“Being selected for Glasgow 2026 is an honour in so many ways,” Fife said.
“Birmingham 2022 was incredibly special for me realising my lifetime dreams to win two gold medals and now to return to the Games as a mum makes this selection amazing for different reasons.
“I am excited to represent this wonderful country and hope that we can have another successful campaign as a team.”
She is joined by a talented group of athletes who have demonstrated outstanding form across recent domestic and international competitions, reinforcing Australia’s status as a global powerhouse in bowls.
Among them is veteran star Kelsey Cottrell, who will line up at her fourth Commonwealth Games, adding further depth and experience to the squad.
The Queenslander boasts a complete Commonwealth Games medal collection, having won gold in the women’s fours at Gold Coast 2018, silver in the triples at Glasgow 2014, and bronze in the singles at Delhi 2010, underlining her consistency across multiple Games and formats.
“Being selected for my fourth Commonwealth Games is something I don’t take for granted,” Cottrell said.
“I’ve been fortunate to experience multiple Games since in my first in Delhi in 2010, and each one has meant something different. From winning my first medal to becoming a gold medallist in Gold Coast 2018, those moments have shaped my career.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of this team again and ready to give everything for Australia in Glasgow.”
Reigning champion Aaron Wilson also returns to Glasgow with a chance to make history; should he secure a third consecutive singles title, he would join English great David Bryant as the only players in history to claim three straight Commonwealth Games singles gold medals, following Bryant’s remarkable run of four consecutive titles between 1962 and 1978.
For Wilson, the opportunity is one he does not take lightly.
“To have the chance to chase a third straight Commonwealth Games gold medal is something really special,” Wilson said.
“Winning in Gold Coast and defending the title in Birmingham are moments I’ll never forget, but I’m still hungry for more.
“The standard keeps rising, and that’s exactly what drives me; I want to keep pushing myself and do everything I can to bring home another gold for Australia in Glasgow.”
Jake Fehlberg and Jacqueline Hudson will form a new partnership in the vision-impaired mixed doubles, bringing together proven Commonwealth Games experience and exciting debut talent as they prepare for Glasgow 2026.
Fehlberg returns with valuable Games experience, having won gold at Gold Coast 2018 and narrowly missing the medals in Birmingham 2022, and will be aiming to add to his Commonwealth Games success on the international stage.
Hudson will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage for the first time alongside Fehlberg in what shapes as a promising new Australian pairing.
Veteran Para athlete Jake Fehlberg will contest his third Commonwealth Games and says the opportunity to return to the sport’s biggest stage remains deeply meaningful.
“Coming into my third Commonwealth Games means a lot to me,” Fehlberg said.
“I’ve experienced the highs and lows of this event, and each time it’s driven me to improve. Representing Australia again is something I never take for granted, and I’m proud to be heading to Glasgow with a great new partner and the opportunity to compete at the highest level once more.”
Commonwealth Games Australia Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM OLY said the team embodies the strength and depth of the sport nationwide.
“This is an exciting and highly capable team that reflects the depth of talent in Australian bowls,” Thomas said.
“We have a strong history in this sport at the Commonwealth Games, and this group is well placed to build on that success in Glasgow.”
Bowls Australia’s Performance Director and National Coach Gary Willis said having four Commonwealth Games debutants alongside athletes with multiple Games campaigns creates a really strong balance within the squad.
“This is an exciting group that combines proven performers on the international stage with athletes who have earned their opportunity through sustained form and consistency,” Willis said.
“Commonwealth Games selection is never straightforward, and the depth across both our open and para programs made for some incredibly tough conversations.
“Representing Australia at a Commonwealth Games is one of the highest honours in our sport, and every athlete selected should be incredibly proud of what they’ve earned.”
AUSTRALIAN BOWLS TEAM – GLASGOW 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
| Name | Event | Age | State | Commonwealth Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serena Bonnell | Para Women’s Pairs | 43 | QLD | Birmingham 2022 – silver medallist |
| Kelsey Cottrell | Women’s Pairs | 35 | QLD | Delhi 2010 – bronze medallist; Glasgow 2014 – silver medallist; Gold Coast 2018 – gold medallist |
| Damien Delgado | Para Men’s Pairs | 45 | NSW | Birmingham 2022 – silver medallist |
| Jake Fehlberg | Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs | 32 | QLD | Gold Coast 2018 – gold medallist; Birmingham 2022 |
| Ellen Fife | Women’s Singles | 29 | NSW |
Birmingham 2022 – two-time gold medallist; |
| Dawn Hayman | Women’s Pairs | 28 | NSW |
Debut |
| Louise Hoskins | Para Women’s Pairs | 76 | QLD | Debut |
| Jacqueline Hudson | Vision-Impaired Mixed Pairs | 75 | NSW |
Debut |
| James Reynolds | Para Men’s Pairs | 45 | NSW | Manchester 2002 – bronze medallist; Glasgow 2014 |
| Aaron Teys | Men’s Pairs | 32 | NSW | Debut |
| Corey Wedlock | Men’s Pairs | 29 | NSW | Birmingham 2022 |
| Aaron Wilson | Men’s Singles | 34 | NSW | Gold Coast 2018 – gold medallist; Birmingham 2022 – gold medallist |
The Commonwealth Games is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in bowls, so all eyes will be on the competition when it gets rolling at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Bowls has featured at every edition of the Commonwealth Games since they began in 1930 except for the Games in Kingston, Jamaica in 1966 because no suitable facilities were available, while Para Bowls made its debut at Victoria 1994, before being added permanently to the program in Manchester.
In a Games first, Glasgow 2026 will see both Bowls and Para Bowls contested indoors, offering a unique ‘intimate’ experience for bowlers and spectators alike.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from 23 July to 2 August. Bowls events will take place at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC), in the SEC Centre from Friday 24 July to Sunday 2 August.
