STEFANIE Collins cannot wait to make her England debut when she takes to the basketball court later this week.

The 35-year-old, from Upper Heyford, is set to line up against Canada in a Pool A opener on Friday at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Basketball returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since 2006 and Collins, who plays in the Women’s British League for Cardiff Met Archers, is looking forward to getting started.

She said: “It’s always a great honour to represent your country and this is the first time that I will have represented England.

“It’s such a great achievement.”

Oxfordshire will also have a coaching representative, with Amanda Booth part of England’s swimming set-up.

City of Oxford’s head coach was selected as part of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Women’s Coach Internship Programme.

She said: “I am delighted and excited to have been offered a position.

“This appointment will give me invaluable experience of working with senior international swimmers.

“I will also have a chance to work with high-performance coaches and support staff.”

Meanwhile, Owain Dolan-Gray is hoping to help Wales challenge for glory in the hockey.

The Reading forward, who coaches the first and second men’s teams at Wallingford, is in action tomorrow in his country’s Pool B opener against Pakistan at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

Former Oxford University half-back Tom Mitchell captains England’s rugby sevens team.

They first face Jamaica in Pool B on Saturday, April 14, at the Robina Stadium, with the competition played across the final two days of the games.