Glasgow 2026: Sian Honnor says Commonwealth Games is bowls’ greatest likelihood

Team England bowls star Sian Honnor believes the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the sport’s image and attract thousands of new players

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As the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games draws near, Team England star Sian Honnor reckons the sport faces a once-in-a-generation chance to reinvent itself and draw in thousands of fresh participants.

For years, bowls has grappled with a paradox. It stands as one of Britain’s most triumphant Commonwealth sports, churning out world-class competitors and serving up thrilling international contests.

Yet amongst those who don’t participate, the sport has frequently battled to dispel misconceptions that don’t mirror its contemporary truth.

With the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games now looming, though, there’s mounting confidence within the sport that bowls finds itself at a crucial juncture.

Few grasp that chance better than Team England international Sian Honnor. As one of the nation’s top performers, Honnor has seen firsthand the divide between what folk reckon bowls represents and what they uncover when they actually set foot on a green.

Honnor, 38, said: “People are always surprised when they actually try it,” she says. “They realise quite quickly how much skill is involved, how competitive it can be but also how welcoming the environment is and that anyone can give it a go.”

The obstacle, she contends, has never been the sport itself and reckons that the greatest barrier has always been enticing people through the gate for the first time.

That’s precisely why many within the sport view Glasgow 2026 as a potential watershed moment.

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As one of the ten sports on the Commonwealth Games progr Bowls and Para Bowls will receive daily coverage throughout the competition, showcasing the sport to millions of viewers worldwide. More crucially, the governing bodies of bowls are committed to ensuring that the interest sparked by elite competition translates into genuine participation at the grassroots level.

The vehicle for this ambition is Bowls’ Big Summer 2026, a nationwide participation campaign running from May to September, designed to help clubs capitalise on the increased visibility that the Games will bring. Clubs across the country will host open days, taster sessions and flexible opportunities to play in an effort to attract new audiences to the sport.

For Honnor, the timing couldn’t be more perfect. She added: “We know there are people looking for ways to be active that aren’t necessarily high-impact.

She said: “We know there are people looking for ways to be active that aren’t necessarily high-impact. People are looking for community, they’re looking to make connections and improve their wellbeing. Bowls offers all of those things.”

“When people watch bowls at the highest level, they see the precision and the pressure. What they don’t always see is the community behind it. Clubs are full of brilliant people and that’s often what keeps people coming back.”

The campaign has been developed not simply to encourage participation, but to make participation easier. Central to the initiative is Play-Bowls.com, which acts as a national hub connecting prospective players with clubs, sessions and opportunities to play in their local area.

The strategy reflects a growing understanding across sport that inspiration alone is rarely enough.

For Honnor, success in 2026 will not be measured solely by medals. She added: “Of course everyone wants Team England to perform well, but if people watch the Games and then decide to give bowls a go themselves, that’s a huge success for the sport too.

“Hopefully we’ll inspire people to try something new. Once they do, I think they’ll quickly understand why so many of us love it.”

For a sport that has spent decades building strong communities across the country, it may prove to be the biggest opportunity it has ever had.

To find your nearest club and book a session, visit www.Play-Bowls.com.