The Welsh Korfball Association (Welsh: Cymdeithas Pêl-côrff Cymru) was established in 2002 as the body to promote and develop korfball in Wales. It is responsible for Wales' korfball competitions, the national league, and the Welsh national team. It is affiliated with the British Korfball Association and the International Korfball Federation.
History
Although korfball was created in the Netherlands in 1902, it did not gain significant interest in Wales until nearly a century later. Note that the word côrff has nothing to do with the Welsh word "corff" but is instead a Welsh spelling of the Dutch word "korf," meaning "basket."
Wales is now among the top 25 countries competing in the sport.
Wales Competitions
The Association is responsible for maintaining the national team and for the national league.
Championship
The Championship is contested by every team in Wales. The competition is structured using the Welsh National League and the Western Regional League. The Welsh Cup is the top tier, with the winner advancing to represent Wales in the IKF Europa Cup. The Trophy is the middle tier and the Plate is open to all teams.
The Welsh Cup was originally organized as a gala event open to one team from each club. This ran from 2008-2014 before being replaced by league placements to determine the national champion. This format faced difficulties due to teams competing in different leagues; therefore, the Welsh Championship was reintroduced, adding the Trophy and Plate tiers to allow every team in Wales to compete.
IKF Europa Cup
The Welsh National Champion is entitled to participate in the IKF Europa Cup against other national champions from across Europe. The national champion has been determined by either the winner of the Welsh League or the Welsh Cup, depending on the format for each season. No Welsh club has ever advanced past the First Round of the competition. The history of Welsh clubs competing in the Europa Cup is available.
Teams
There are approximately 7 korfball teams in Wales in 2024: Cardiff City and Met, Cardiff Raptors, Newport Centurions, Swansea University, Aberystwyth University, Cardiff University, and Cardiff Met University.
See also
References
- Hayward, Will (2016-10-08). "Korfball: the sport you've probably never heard of". Wales Online. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- "History". Welsh Korfball Association website. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- "This is Korfball". International Korfball Federation. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- "Korfball | Team Sport, Mixed Gender, Dutch Origin | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- Will Hayward (8 October 2016). "Korfball: the sport you've probably never heard of that's actually really popular in Wales". WalesOnline. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- "Championship". Welsh Korfball Association website. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
- "Europa Cup". Welsh Korfball Association website. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- "Clubs". Welsh Korfball Association website. Retrieved 8 May 2024.