Talent centres round out 2024 with Prince of Wales Cup and friendly tournaments

An exciting two days of water polo takes place this weekend as the Swim England Water Polo Talent Centre’s friendly tournaments and the English School Swimming Associations’ (ESSA) Prince of Wales Cup return.

Both competitions will welcome the national governing bodies talent centre athletes, continuing the partnership formed with ESSA last year and providing a third end of term competition for the talent centre players.

Like in 2023, the U14 talent centre players have been invited to take part in the ESSA event, alongside players chosen from schools all over the country.

The one-day tournament will be held at the Manchester Aquatics Centre on Saturday 14 December and will now go by the name of the Prince of Wales Cup, following the change in title of both ESSA and Swim England patron – HRH Prince William.

Last year’s event – which took place at the Alan Higgs Centre in Coventry – welcomed 60 talent centre athletes alongside another 60 that were nominated from schools across the country.

Teams were mixed with four boys and four girls squads selected for a day of vital match experience in the Midlands, which is set to continue in the North West on Saturday.

On the same day, the first of two friendly tournaments ran by Swim England’s Talent Centre programme coaches takes place for the U16 players.

The tournaments will each bring three of the six talent centres together with Haberdashers hosting the East, London and South West on Saturday.

The new Midland’s centre will also take part in its first end of term event as they meet the North West and North East centres back at the East Manchester Leisure Centre on Sunday 15 December.

Both tournaments provide an opportunity for each of the athletes to compete with and against their peers from across the country.

Speaking ahead of the weekend’s events, Swim England Water Polo Talent and Inclusion Officer Andy McGinty said: “We’re really looking forward to our end of term events for our talent centre athletes.

“Last year’s Duke of Cambridge Cup provided a great experience for our U14s and we’re delighted that they can be a part of ESSA’s tournament this year too.

“The mixed team format worked really well, and it was great to see players from across the country making new friends and playing at a high level.

“As for our talent centre tournaments, it will be a great opportunity for the players to see how far they’ve progressed since the start of the new season.

“It’s an early chance for them to come together and compete against each other, which is so important for their development.

“Thank you to all the coaches who have led on putting this all together and I can’t wait to see the events in action this weekend.”