After a successful 2025 Pétanque England Inter-Regional Championship, when Wales gained promotion to Division 1 following a nail-biting finish to the weekend, the question heading into 2026 was simple: could Wales do even better?
The answer was a resounding yes.
The eight-team Welsh squad travelled to this year’s championship knowing they would be competing against some of the strongest regional teams in English pétanque. Far from being daunted by the challenge, the squad arrived with determination, confidence and a genuine belief that they could compete at this level.
A Real Team Effort
The Welsh squad brought together players with a wide range of experience. In previous years, success has sometimes depended heavily on a small number of teams producing the results. This year was different.
From the outset there was a strong sense that all eight teams had a part to play, and that a collective approach would prove crucial.
Wales began the championship against Chiltern and Kent, two regions with an impressive record in the competition. It was always going to be a demanding start, but Wales secured two wins against Chiltern and three against Kent.
Next came Anglia and Southern, and this was where Wales really began to demonstrate its ability, with significant victories against Anglia followed by Southern.
By lunchtime on Saturday, Wales already had 16 wins and confidence within the squad was growing.
Saturday Sets a New Benchmark
After lunch came encounters with the Isle of Wight, Heart of England and Suffolk Coastal regions.
Wales added another 15 victories, bringing Saturday’s total to an impressive 31 wins.
Not only had the squad already done enough to remove any relegation concerns, but Wales had produced its best-ever performance at the Inter-Regional Championship — and there was still another full day of competition to come.
Sunday Starts in Style
With five encounters on Sunday, Wales immediately picked up where it had left off.
Against Heart of England, the Welsh teams produced an outstanding round, winning seven of the eight matches. That result propelled Wales into second place.
Five more victories against the Isle of Wight took the overall tally to 43 wins, with Wales now sitting in third position.
The final three encounters, however, could hardly have been more demanding: Chiltern, Kent and Southern. Every victory would be critical in deciding the final podium positions.
Chiltern once again proved an extremely difficult opposition, with Wales managing two wins. Despite the setback, Wales held on to third place.
Everything to Play For
Next came Kent. Wales had taken three wins from them on Saturday — could the squad improve on that?
It certainly could.
Wales produced another excellent performance to record five victories, including an emphatic 13–0 win, taking the overall total to 50.
That left one final encounter against Southern. A strong result could secure second place overall.
Wales battled hard but could manage only three victories, bringing the championship total to an outstanding 53 wins from 96 matches.
All that Wales could do was wait.
The final positions depended on the outcome of the encounter between Chiltern and Kent. An 8–0 victory for Chiltern would have left Wales in second place, ahead of Kent.
Unfortunately for Wales, Chiltern won 6–2.
The final table therefore saw Chiltern take the championship with 75 wins, Kent finish second with 54 and Wales third with 53 — just one win short of second place.
A Championship to Be Proud Of
There was understandable disappointment; players inevitably reflected on games that might have gone differently and opportunities that slipped away. That is the nature of competitive sport.
But those moments should not overshadow what the Welsh squad achieved.
Wales finished third in Division 1, recording 53 victories and a points difference of +66. Four Welsh teams finished with winning records, led by Welsh PA-8 with 10 wins from 12 matches, followed by Welsh PA-7 with nine wins. Welsh PA-5 and Welsh PA-6 each recorded eight victories.
Most importantly, this was not the achievement of one or two teams. It was a squad performance, built on determination, teamwork and belief.
Promotion in 2025 showed that Wales belonged in Division 1. Third place in 2026 showed that Wales can compete with the very best.
A new benchmark has been set.
Now it is time to build on it.
As Team Manager and President, I am very proud of the performance of all the teams over the weekend; the Welsh squad’s determination to perform their best was evident in their behaviour both on and off the terrain.
Thank you.
Tony Smith
