DisorderLee Breaks Down the Team Wales Roster
In their 1st World Cup appearance in 2014, Wales was pushed to the Consolation Bracket with a tough 45 point loss to Norway. Team Wales will be looking to get over that hump in 2017. They are going to have to do so with a lot of new faces though, as Team Wales have had a large turnover of skaters with quite a few having left Roller Derby/retired from skating since the 2014 World Cup.
They have been getting experience with these new skaters in smaller international tournaments like the European Roller Derby tournament in Belgium in September where they placed 3rd beating Spain, Portugal, Iceland and Italy and only dropping one bout to France.
They hope to build on this with their own Road to TBC International Tournament in November where they will host Ireland, West Indies, France, Scotland, Belgium, Sweden and Spain.
Regardless of the outcome, their awesome fans will surely be there in support.
The breakdown of the roster they are putting in this work with is below. You can follow along with Team Wales Roller Derby on Facebook, or on Twitter @WalesRollrDerby or on the #FollowtheFire hash tag.
Returnees
The 6 players returning are; Optimus (Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby), Sleazy Rider (Birmingham Blitz Dames), Beatrix (Severn Roller Torrent), along with Snail (formerly Snailblazer), Mort formerly the (Mortician) and Kemp of Tiger Bay Brawlers.
1st Timers
With a roster of 29, up from 27, and only 6 returnees this Team Wales roster will feature a lot of World Cup rookies. This will be a big theme for Team Wales this year and its easier to check the rosters below to separate returning skaters (bold) from 1st time skaters.
Team Breakdowns
The 2014 was made up 3 from Neath Port Talbot, 3 from Newcastle Rollergirls, 4 from Severn Roller Torrent, 4 from Swansea City Roller Derby, 5 from Tiger Bay Brawlers and 1 each from Wirral, Sheffield, Birmingham Blitz Dames, London Rockin’ Rollers, London Rollergirls and Royal Windsor Rollergirls. 13 leagues were represented on that 27 skater roster, with 1 independent skater.
2016 sees the same amount from Neath (3), 2 new skaters and Optimus returning, Beatrix returning from Severn, 7 from Swansea including the returning Snail and Mort and 11 from Tiger Bay including Kemp from 2014 and Team England 2014 training squad members Bloxie, Dos Santos and Pip Gray. Leagues supplying one player each are Birmingham Blitz Dames (Sleazy Rider, returning), Croydon Roller Derby, Leeds, North Wales roller derby and Rebellion while 2 skaters come from Riot City Ravens of Newport.
This roster sees 10 leagues represented with 29 skaters. This the first time Croydon, Leeds, Rebellion and Riot City have representation.
*Rosters kindly supplied by Helen Northmore, Team Wales Manager. Two-Time skaters are bolded, new leagues are italicized in 2016 Roster.
2014 Team Wales Roster
Sleazy Rider — Birmingham Blitz Dames
Blaze of Glory — London Rockin’ Rollers
Baby Cheesus — London Rollergirls
The Mighty Bush — Independent
Lockhart — Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby
Optimus — Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby
Marie Bayonet — Newcastle Roller Girls
Hit One Purl One — Newcastle Rollerr Girls
Gin & Sonic — Newcastle Roller Girls
Shedog — North Wales Roller Derby
Rhayfen — Rhondda Renegades
Steflon — Royal Windsor Roller Girls
Buccaneer Betty Fear — Severn Roller Torrent
Voodoo Ray — Severn Roller Torrent
Thunderkat — Severn Roller Torrent
Beatrix Got’her — Severn Roller Torrent
Glenys the Menace — Sheffield Steel Rollergirls
Little Myy — Swansea City Roller Derby
The Mortician — Swansea City Roller Derby
Snail Blazer — Swansea City Roller Derby
5th Element — Swansea City Roller Derby
Jolly-Pop — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Kemp — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Jen Clawed Van Slamme — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Pixy of Pain — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Gardner — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Talula Trouble — Wirral Whipiteres
2016 Team Wales Roster
Sleazy Rider — Birmingham Blitz Dames
NikkiBlocker Glory — Croydon Roller Derby
Sally Jones — Leeds Roller Derby
Optimus — Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby
Carysmatic — Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby
Moll — Neath Port Talbot Roller Derby
Megan Love — North Wales Roller Derby
Boris — Rebellion Roller Derby
Angel Gabrihell — Riot City Ravens
Jenkill n Hyde — Riot City Ravens
Beatrix — Severn Roller Torrent
Kitty Macabre — Swansea City Roller Derby
Coop De Gras — Swansea City Roller Derby
Aly McSqueal — Swansea City Roller Derby
Mort — Swansea City Roller Derby
Snail — Swansea City Roller Derby
Bexon — Swansea City Roller Derby
Hill — Swansea City Roller Derby
Angie — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Bloxie — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Dos Santos — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Ava Assassin — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Pip Gray — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Kemp — Tiger Bay Brawlers
NiKilla — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Thrill Collins — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Chant Hell — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Baxter — Tiger Bay Brawlers
Daffin — Tiger Bay Brawlers
