A 12-strong Blackjacks squad was named yesterday for the scaled-down Games in Scotland in July.
Bowls was one of the survivors when the event, relocated from the Australian state of Victoria to Glasgow, slashed its programme to 10 sports.
Only singles and doubles will be played, and games will be indoors for the first time.
The New Zealand women’s team is headlined by 2023 world singles champion Tayla Bruce, who will contest the singles in Glasgow.
"It’s such an honour to be selected," Bruce said.
"It’s a true pinnacle event for our sport, particularly because it allows us to have the special opportunity to be part of the wider New Zealand team.
‘‘I’m really looking forward to competing, making the most of the experience and representing my country with pride.’’
Glasgow will be a third consecutive Commonwealth Games for Bruce, who was part of the bronze medal-winning triples and fours in 2022, and was world singles champion a year later.
Katelyn Inch and Selina Goddard will fly the New Zealand flag in the women’s doubles after winning bronze together in Birmingham four years ago.
Goddard also won bronze in the fours in 2022, and claimed bronze the last time the Games were in Glasgow, in 2014.
Sunshine Coast-based Inch made her Games debut at Gold Coast 2018 and was a world champion in 2023.
Former world champions Teri Blackbourn and Julie O’Connell will contest the women’s B6-B8 para pairs.
The New Zealand men’s team is led by the vastly experienced but still relatively young Shannon McIlroy.
He earns selection for a fifth consecutive Commonwealth Games, and the 2016 world champion is eager to claim a first medal at the event.
"I’m incredibly honoured to get another opportunity to compete at my fifth Commonwealth Games," McIlroy said.
"Every Games has given me a new experience, and this one will be no different.
‘‘The shortened format has made me excited about the opportunity to represent the New Zealand team again. This is our Olympics, so I look forward to the challenge ahead.’’
Tony Grantham and Melbourne-based Ali Forsyth will represent New Zealand in the men’s pairs.
It will be a fifth Commonwealth Games for world fours champion Forsyth and a third for Grantham.
Mark Noble will attend his fourth Games and is joined in the para men’s pairs by debutant Kurt Smith.
Dunedin bowler Kerrin Wheeler has been selected, conditional on international classification, in the vision impaired mixed pairs, alongside fellow Dunedin bowler Sonya Woodrow.
It will be doubly special for Wheeler if his place in Glasgow is confirmed as his director is his father, North East Valley stalwart Colin Wheeler.
Blackjacks
Glasgow squad
Women: Tayla Bruce (singles); Katelyn Inch, Selina Goddard (pairs).
Men: Shannon McIlroy (singles); Ali Forsyth, Tony Grantham (pairs).
Para: Teri Blackbourn, Julie O’Connell (women’s pairs B6-B8); Mark Noble, Kurt Smith (men’s pairs B6-B8); Kerrin Wheeler, Sonya Woodrow (mixed pairs B2-B3, subject to classification). — Allied Media
