World Bowls Championships

The World Bowls Championships are the premier international bowls events between national bowls organisations affiliated to World Bowls and to other bodies such as the PBA, the World Bowls Tour and the IIBC. The sport's premier event, the World Outdoor Bowls Championships, is organised by World Bowls and was first held in 1966; the men's and women's events are held every four years and, from 2008, together. Qualifying national organisations, usually countries, send a team of five players who play once as a single and a four, then again as a pair and a triple. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in each of the four disciplines, and there is also a team trophy, the Leonard Trophy for men and the Taylor Trophy for women.