The island’s top women players such as Liz Kerr, left, now have more than just the inter-insular and Island Games to aim for. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0455997)

GUERNSEY have been accepted into the National Women’s Basketball League. From September the island side will be part of Division Two Southwest and Midlands.

‘All the girls are up for it,’ said Guernsey coach Pat Ogier. ‘It’s a fantastic opportunity to better ourselves and bring back new ideas and techniques from other teams. It’s something that we need to do now. We play the inter-insular once a year and the Island Games every two and it’s not enough competition. It’s going to be quite tough this season.’

Ogier’s side will take on the likes of Plymouth, Taunton, Birmingham, Cardiff and Bristol.

‘They are the same sorts of team to what we’ve played before, but you’re never too sure as the close season brings in a lot of players,’ he said.