Bowls International – July 2026

Summary

£5.20 buys you Issue 542 of Bowls International, and the 24-page Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games pull-out supplement alone is worth the cover price. Editor Ceris Hewlings and her team pack this July 2026 edition with the World Bowls Indoor Championships report from Ocean Grove, Victoria, a full preview of the July 23–August 2 Commonwealth Games in their new indoor format, and a first look at the 2027 World Bowls Championship dates.

The 11-day Glasgow Games will see 3,000 athletes from 74 nations, with bowls and para bowls played on four temporary rinks under a shot clock. Inside, the World Bowls Indoor Championship crowns singles and pairs winners at Ocean Grove Bowling Club, with coverage of how media and livestreaming are growing the sport worldwide. A new men's World Bowls Series No 1 is named on page 56, while the EIBA merger gets a new name announced on page 55.

Regular columns include Coaching Insight on page 50, covering India workshop developments, Potters News on resort action, and the Hot Shots Club winners — the oldest this month being Alan Smith (79), Phil Hughes (83) and Baz Ward (91). A Drakes Pride competition on page 53 offers a set of Camo-Bowls worth £520, and the Friends of English Bowling page details the 2026 calendar.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Feature / Commonwealth Games

p.23-46 · GLASGOW 2026 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
A 24-page pull-out supplement breaking down everything about bowls' indoor debut at the 23rd Commonwealth Games. Four medals available in bowls, three in para bowls, with all competition integrated across all 10 days from July 24 to August 2. The new rules — a 30-second shot clock, placement of the jack rules, singles-and-pairs-only format — are explained in full, alongside player interviews and an A-to-Z guide. If you are a club player hoping to be selected, the eligibility path and what selectors look for is the most actionable part here.

▸ Tournaments / Championships

p.10-22 · WORLD BOWLS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Full report from Ocean Grove Bowling Club in Victoria, Australia, where the world's best competed for indoor singles and doubles crowns. The coverage explains how livestreaming and media partnerships are expanding the sport's audience beyond the traditional bowls community. Club secretaries can use the broadcast details as a template for promoting their own local finals.

p.54 · 2027 WORLD BOWLS CHAMPIONSHIP DATES REVEALED
A concise news item confirming when and where the next global outdoor championship will take place. Tournament organisers need this date for their planning calendars.

▸ News / Governing Body

p.55 · INDOOR MERGER — NEW NAME ANNOUNCED
The English Indoor Bowling Association chair speaks out on the merger, with the new organisation name finally confirmed. Affiliated club officials should note the name change for their governance records.

p.56 · WORLD BOWLS SERIES — NEW MEN'S NO 1
The rankings have reshuffled, and a new man sits at the top of the World Bowls Series. Anyone tracking seeds for upcoming international events needs this update.

▸ Regulars

p.8 · ALL ABOUT THE FRIENDS
Top rank kudos and the 2026 calendar of the Friends of English Bowling. Members can check the fixture list to plan their attendance.

p.50 · COACHING INSIGHT — INDIA WORKSHOPS
Details on coaching workshops being delivered in India, part of the sport's international development push. Coaches looking for overseas volunteering opportunities will find this relevant.

p.52 · POTTERS NEWS
All the latest activity at Potters Resorts, including a £100 discount code for bowls breaks using code BWLINT. Bookings for Norfolk and Essex resorts open now.

▸ Competition

p.53 · DRAKES PRIDE — WIN A SET OF NEW CAMO-BOWLS
A Drakes Pride competition offering one winner a set of Camo-Bowls, retail value £520. Entries close September 28, 2026.

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Editor's Take

This is the most practically useful issue of Bowls International all year, entirely because of the 24-page Glasgow 2026 supplement. The indoor-format explainer and selection guidance give it a shelf life beyond the usual monthly cycle. The World Bowls Indoor Championships report from Ocean Grove is thorough, though it could have named all title winners alongside the coverage. Weakest area: the regular columns — Coaching Insight and Potters News — are too thin to justify their page count. The Drakes Pride competition is a nice reader perk but takes up a full page that could have held another news story. This issue is ideal for Commonwealth Games-bound players, officials, and any club member who wants to understand how bowls is evolving for its biggest stage in decades.

Strengths
• 24-page Commonwealth Games pull-out with rules, schedule and selection insights
• World Bowls Indoor Championships report from Ocean Grove
• EIBA merger name announcement settles months of speculation

Weaknesses
• Coaching Insight and Potters News lack substance for their page space
• No named champions list for the indoor singles and doubles finals

Verdict: Essential — for anyone connected to bowls during a Commonwealth Games year, this supplement makes the issue indispensable.