Bowls Australia has announced the Bowls Premier League (BPL) has been expanded with two new additional teams expected to take part from BPL20 this November.
Joining the biannual competition will be Sydney’s St Johns Parking Bowling Club Group, which includes St Johns Park Bowling Club, Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club, Club Wallacia and Wallacia Country Club, which will compete under the Sydney Saints team banner, and the Ocean Grove Bowling Club that will join under the new Geelong Jets brand.
The two new teams will join the existing 10 BPL teams, including the Sydney Lions, Perth Suns, and Tasmania Tridents.
“The Bowls Premier League has established itself as a prestigious and exciting Australian sporting product across 19 events and 11 years, and it’s fantastic to see the event evolve to another level with the inclusion of two really strong, progressive and committed Clubs in Saint Johns Park and Ocean Grove,” Bowls Australia CEO Matthew Kennedy said.
“Bowls Australia has been really thrilled with the level and quality of interest that we received from this expression of interest process and it’s already helping frame our thinking about possibilities for the next phase of the competition in 2026-27 onwards.”
Additionally, Bowls Australia and Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) have confirmed an extension to their production partnership and rights holder relationship for a further two years.
Under the extension, SEN’s television production arm Rainmaker will continue to produce the sport’s broadcast television production of the BPL and Australian Open events until 2026.
“The quality of television production of the sport’s biggest events, in the Bowls Premier League and Australian Open, is paramount to the continued growth and evolution of not just the events but the sport as a whole, and contribute to engaging existing fans and expanding the appeal to new audiences,” Kennedy said.
“Bowls Australia are excited to continue working alongside valued partners in Sports Entertainment Network and Rainmaker to provide quality coverage of the sport.”