England Lacrosse launch Women's "Biggest & Brightest" Tournament

15 September 2011

“Best & Brightest” is a new tournament format in which the most skilful lacrosse players in the English women’s game pit their wits – and their sticks – against each other in a competition designed to find the best players in the country. The tournament comprises four teams from the national Elite, Development and U19 squads playing a round-robin format on 2nd October; 6th November and 4th March and then a final scheduled for 15th April.

The tournament will help choose the players to represent England in the Home Internationals, which will be hosted this year by England (20-22nd April), and in the European Championships to be held in Holland at the end of June. It is part of the build up to the World Cup in Ontario, Canada in July 2013, where England will be strong medal challengers.

Commenting on the Tournament, England Team Manager Alex Harle, said “Best & Brightest will provide an excellent introduction to the game for those who haven’t seen it before and for those who have, it offers all that they expect from the very best players - a fast and furious pace and very exciting to watch. We hope also that local schools across the South will be able to come to see the best players in the country show their skills. Surrey Sports Park is a superb venue for top class sport and we expect this to be a great occasion”

Paul Blanchard, Surrey Sports Park Chief Executive added “ Surrey Sports Park is home to a number of elite sporting teams and we are delighted to host the England Women’s Lacrosse Team. An earlier lacrosse event in the summer was well supported and we anticipate still greater interest in what will be a very competitive series of matches.”

Admission for the Tournament will be free with a Souvenir programme available to support the National Team. The first matches start at 10.30am on Sunday 2nd October 2011.