Commonwealth Games: Cook Islands bowlers train in Frampton on Severn

The team from the Cook Islands received a warm welcome from Frampton on Severn Bowls club

An international bowls team has been preparing to compete in the Commonwealth Games by training at a village club in Gloucestershire.

The Cook Islands' men's and women's teams have been training at Frampton on Severn Bowls Club ahead of the Games being held in Birmingham from 28 July.

Coach, Jason Lindsay, said their time at the club had been a big help.

"A lot of us may not ever get the chance to travel this far again", he added.

Cook Islands coach Jason Lindsay said the Gloucestershire club had helped them prepare

Frampton on Severn bowls member, David Rolls said the club thought it would only be "providing facilities" to the team, but said they ended up providing extra coaching and learning about their culture.

"We've been learning how to dance. We're even going to learn their version of the Haka," he said.

"It's been about the camaraderie that's been developed, the spirit, the friendship. It's been absolutely wonderful," he added.

Frampton on Severn Bowls Club member David Rolls said the club would be cheering the Cook Islands team on

Mr Rolls said everyone at the club would be rooting for them at the Games, with some members keen to travel to Birmingham to support them in person.

The Cook Islands' manager, Papatua Papatua, said bringing home any medals would be a bonus for them

Manager of the Cook Islands' bowls team, Papatua Papatua, thanked the club for its "warmth and support" and that "to win any medals will be a bonus for us".

"We just have to do our best for our country and our people back home," he added.

The team includes four members of the same family, with a mother and father and their two daughters set to play together.

The Jim family are all set to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham

Philip Jim, 58, started playing bowls in 1996, with his wife Tai, 57, taking up the sport two years later.

Daughters Emily, 22, and Tiare, 20, have been playing since they were eight years old.

"It's very comforting to have your parents around, said Emily.

"We are definitely far from home so it's really great to have my sister, mum and dad here," she added.

The Cook Islands is made up of 15 islands in the South Pacific between American Samoa to the west and French Polynesia to the east.