The national volleyball federations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Gibraltar, along with the British Volleyball Federation (BVF), are delighted to announce the launch of a new international tournament.
The Five Nations Volleyball Championship will feature national Senior teams (women’s and men’s) from each country, competing in a round-robin format.
Volleyball England will host the inaugural championships – made possible by support from the BVF – at the National Volleyball Centre, Kettering, from 3rd to 5th January 2025.
The respective women’s and men’s trophies will be named after Don Anthony MBE, recognising the accomplishments of the founder of the Amateur Volleyball Association of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which was the precursor to the English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish associations of today.
As hosts in year one, it is intended that matches will be live streamed on the Volleyball England YouTube Channel, allowing friends, family and supporters from all the nations involved to watch the action. More details around the tournament, including a schedule, will be released in due course.
“Creating closer ties with the other Home Nations and our nearby neighbours is a priority for us as we work to grow the game,” said John Forman, Volleyball England’s Strategic Manager for Talent. “This tournament is an opportunity to give all the nations involved additional international competition, and to generally celebrate the sport together.
“We’re delighted to be able to use this opportunity to honour Don Anthony MBE, who did so much to establish volleyball across the British Isles and was a big advocate of inclusivity and welcoming people and organisations into the fold, which is what this tournament is all about.”
Margaret Ann Fleming MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Volleyball, said: “This truly is an exciting and wonderful event. “Scottish Volleyball is pleased to be in partnership with the home countries and British Volleyball and, with the inclusion of Ireland and Gibraltar making it even more special, we are excited to see this opportunity develop over the coming years.
“The winners receiving the newly-named Don Anthony Trophy is a fabulous tribute to a remarkable man. Our thanks to Volleyball England for hosting this newly initiated event in its first year.”
Jonathan McFadden, Northern Ireland Volleyball President, said: “To be part of the inaugural Five Nations Volleyball Championship is exciting for everyone involved with Volleyball in Northern Ireland.
“We look forward to seeing the competition grow over the coming years and establish itself as a one of the highlights of the competitive calendar, while continuing to build strong relationships with the other nations.”
Gary Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Volleyball Ireland, is excited about the development and said: “It makes complete sense to work with and compete against our closest neighbours on a regular basis.
“We’ve built strong relationships with our partners over recent years and I’m excited to see the Five Nations Volleyball Championship grow.”
Chair of the BVF, Mark Kontopoulos, said: “The British Volleyball Federation is proud and excited to be partnering with the Home Nations federations, Ireland and Gibraltar in launching this event.
“This is an exciting opportunity to ignite a spark in the performance pathway for indoor volleyball across the UK. In the absence of government funding for our national teams, the creation of this annual tournament is an essential step in breaking that cycle.
“By creating regular, high-level competition for our senior teams, we can strengthen our squads, build momentum and work toward achieving the kind of success that will ultimately open doors to future funding and investment in the sport.
“It’s especially meaningful to see the trophies named in honour of Don Anthony MBE. Don was a tremendous ambassador for volleyball and Olympism in the UK and globally, and his lifelong passion and dedication left a lasting impact on all of us.
“We’re looking forward to seeing how this event grows and drives development for all the nations involved.”
From the VE web site
