Team UK Revealed Ahead of the Quidditch World Cup

by · April 19, 2018

Quidditch UK has released the roster of players representing the UK this year at the International Quidditch Association’s World Cup! The 25 players will compete in Florence, Italy, from June 27 to July 2, 2018, against 31 other teams in an attempt to win the title! With a mixture of returning players and debutants, the roster has achieved an exceptional balance of experience and fresh talent.

At the last Cup, held in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2016, Team UK won bronze in a thrilling match against Canada with a score of 190*–60. Runners-up USA, who beat the UK in the semifinals and later lost to current champion Australia, will also be returning to the biggest competition of the year!

Team UK will hope to continue its success from the European Games, where they beat France to take the gold.

 

Credit to Ajantha Abey

 

Mel Piper, the president of Quidditch UK, assured fans that the team was more ambitious than ever.

The UK team has trained over countless hours to prepare for the tournament, readying themselves for the tournament this summer. These are the best players in the country, from Nottingham to Brighton, and we are happy to be representing the country this year. In 2016 we won bronze; in 2018 we’re going for gold.

Be sure to cheer on your favorite team this summer! If you’d like to get more involved with the World Cup, find out more information here!

Press Release
UK’s best quidditch players unveiled ahead of World Cup.

QuidditchUK, the national governing body of the sport, has unveiled the country’s best talent to the 2018 IQA World Cup in June The 25-player squad, named Team UK, will represent the UK and compete against 31 other teams in Florence, the host city The team won bronze at the 2016 World Cup at Frankfurt.

Team UK are sending the nation’s top players to compete in the 2018 Quidditch World Cup this June to defend the UK’s position as one of the best Quidditch teams in the world. The Quidditch World Cup, this year hosted in Florence, will see 32 teams play off for the title of World Champion and the UK’s best talent will be competing in a bid for the top spot.

The 2016 Quidditch World Cup saw Team UK snatch the bronze medal from Canada with a 190-60 point win. During the semi-finals the team were defeated by the United States, who were then defeated by Australia in the finals. With eleven players from the 2016 squad returning, Team UK aims to build on their previous success to take on the reigning champions from Australia.

Mel Piper, President of QuidditchUK, comments: "The UK team has trained over countless hours to prepare for the tournament, readying themselves for the tournament this summer. These are the best players in the country, from Nottingham to Brighton, and we are happy to be representing the country this year. In 2016 we won bronze; in 2018 we're going for gold."

Having made their international debut in 2012, Team UK has made 6 appearances on the global stage so far. The UK’s national team has consistently grown since 2012 and with the experience and talent on the 2018 squad, is set to continue this trend for this year’s tournament season. To aid their growth and development, Team UK are also open to sponsorship for support in their World Cup bid.

Quidditch was adapted from the Harry Potter novels almost twelve years ago in the US. It combines elements of rugby and dodgeball to create a fast[-]paced, full contact, co-ed sport. It has proved to be a popular game for athletes and Potter enthusiasts alike and has grown enormously in the past few years. There are now teams on every continent as well as many countries hosting annual club championships for their top teams. To compete, teams must have a mix of genders on [the] pitch at all times. The sport aims to be as inclusive as possible and to encourage more women in sport and increase awareness of non-binary genders.