The 14th edition of the World Bowls Championships will be held on the Gold Coast in Queensland from the 29th August to 10th September 2023. The Championships have been held every fours years since 1966, the women had their own separate event, they joined to make it one Championships in 2008. In future, this event will be held every two years with para and visually impaired categories a part of the Championships.

In the run up to the event, we take a look back at the 2016 champions and look ahead to those players competing in 2023.

The 2016 World Bowls Championships were held at Christchurch, New Zealand.

Men’s Pairs Gold Medal 2016: Aaron Wilson & Brett Wilkie (Australia)

Men’s Pairs Silver Medal 2016: Gary Kelly & Ian McClure (Ireland)

Men’s Pairs Bronze Medals 2016: Alex Marshall & Paul Foster (Scotland), Mike Kernaghan & Shannon McIlroy (New Zealand)

Aaron Wilson won the Australian Open Singles title in 2013, he then burst on to the World Bowls scene in 2016 picking up Gold in the Pairs and Silver in the Fours. Irish duo Kelly and McClure beat England’s Louis Ridout and Sam Tolchard 17-10 in the play-off game and then beat New Zealanders Mike Kernaghan Shannon McIlroy 17-10 in the semi-final.

Watch the Men’s Pairs 2016 Final here

Men’s Pairs Players 2023:

Australia: Aaron Teys & Aaron Wilson

Argentina: Ricardo Rubinat & Raul Pollet

Botswana: Michael Gabobewe & Baven Balendra

Canda: John Bezear & Ryan Bester

Cook Islands: Aiden Zittersteijn & Taiki Paniani

England: Ed Morris & Sam Tolchard

Falkland Islands: Garry Tyrrell & Christopher Locke

Fiji: Lal Chand Prasad & Munesh Kumar

France: Dorian Dumont & Guillaume Hertzog

Hong Kong China: Tony Cheung & Lee Ka Ho

India: Sunil Bahadur & Putul Sonowal

Ireland: Adam McKeown & Gary Kelly

Israel: Danny Alonim & Dani Slodownik

Japan: Takashi Ohira & Tetsuya Hirouchi

Jersey: Derek Boswell & Malcolm De Sousa

Kenya: Benson Kariuki Wambugu & Cephas Kimwaki Kimani

Macao China: Wong Chi Hong & Cheong Pak Keong

Malaysia: Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple & Soufi Rusli

Malta: Peter Tonna & Wesley Hedges

Namibia: Christo Steenkamp & Schalk Van Wyk

Netherlands: Maus van Tol & Frank de Vries

New Zealand: Tony Grantham & Andrew Kelly

Niue: Keith Papani & Gregory Funaki

Norfolk Island: Trevor Gow & Matt Bigg

Papua New Guinea: Manu Walo & Velia Vele

Philippines: Elmer Abatayo & Rodel Labayo

Samoa: Avala Savaiinaea & Tasesa Tafeaga

Scotland: Jason Banks & Iain McLean

Singapore: Deepan SO Ramachandran & Anthony Loh Kee Sin

South Africa: Wayne Rittmuller & Niksa Benguric

Spain: Terry Morgan & John Pooley

Sweden: Olle Bäckgren & Pontus Palmkvist

Switzerland: Markus Merz & Beat Matti

Thailand: Uthen Ontong & Wattana Kadkhunthod

Türkiye: Serkan Akar & Ozkan Akar

United States of America: Bob Schneider & Charlie Herbert

Wales: Daniel Salmon & Jarrad Breen

Zimbabwe: Myles Hopper & Clive Robertson

Women’s Pairs Gold Medal 2016: Laura Daniels & Jess Sims (Wales)

Women’s Pairs Silver Medal 2016: Angela Boyd & Jo Edwards (New Zealand)

Women’s Pairs Bronze Medals 2016: Lauren Baillie & Lesley Doig (Scotland), Sophie Tolchard & Ellen Falkner (England)

Watch the Women’s Pairs 2016 Final here

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Women’s Pairs Gold medalists from Australia Kristina Krstic & Ellen Ryan will be competition favourites but they will have to face strong opponents to claim that World Bowls Gold. England’s Tolchard and Pharaoh team up again to try and go one step further than they did in the Birmingham Gold Medal match. Canadian youngster Jordan Kos teams up with two time World Bowls medalist Kelly McKerihen while 2019 Atlantic Championships Bronze medalists from Wales, Sara Nicholls and Ysie White look to medal at their first World Championships. Competition underdogs from France Olivia Four and Cindy Royet will be ones to watch.

Women’s Pairs Players 2023:

Australia: Kristina Krstic & Ellen Ryan

Argentina: Laucila Bausili & Ana Ramos

Botswana: Lesedi Millicent Mafoko & Lephai Marea Modutlwa

Canada: Jordan Kos & Kelly McKerihen

Cook Islands: Emily Jim & Tiare Jim

England: Sophie Tolchard & Amy Pharaoh

Fiji: Elizabeth Moceiwai & Losalini Diqoya

France: Olivia Four & Cindy Royet

Guernsey: Rosemary Ogier & Lucy Beere

Hong Kong China: Angel So & Helen Cheung

India: Lovely Choubey & Nayan Moni Saikia

Ireland: Ashleigh Rainey & Sarah Kelly

Japan: Sayuri Abiru & Keiko Kurohara

Jersey: Kim Hutchings & Rachel MacDonald

Kenya: Jedidiah Njeri Maina & Eunice Wambui Mbugua

Macao China: Chan Wai Kun & Tam Sim Fong

Malaysia: Aleena Nawawi & Ain Nabilah Tarmizi

Malta: Rebecca Rixon & Connie Rixon

Namibia: Bianca Lewis & Diana Viljoen

Netherlands: Elly Dolieslager & Ineke Spangenberg

New Zealand: Selina Goddard & Katelyn Inch

Niue: Catherine Papani & Pilena Motufoou

Norfolk Island: Carmen Anderson & Sha Wilson

Papua New Guinea: Klesha Walo & Piwen Karkar

Philippines: Marisa Baronda & Rosita Bradborn

Scotland: Emma McIntyre & Claire Anderson

Singapore: Sarah Ho Shu En & Philomena Goh Quee Kee

South Africa: Francesca Baleri & Colleen Piketh

Switzerland: Marianne Kunzle & Laura Butler

Thailand: Orawan Sodok & Palita Gangur

Türkiye: Berna Guzelocak & Busranur Uzun

United States of America: Janice Bell & Anne Nunes

Wales: Sara Nicholls & Ysie White

Zimbabwe: Caryn Sinclair & Heather Singleton