International basketball is heading to Oaklands College’s St Albans campus when the Welsh national team face Levett Essex Leopards.

Herts Advertiser: Team Wales will head to Oaklands College as part of their Commonwealth Games build-upTeam Wales will head to Oaklands College as part of their Commonwealth Games build-up (Image: Archant)

The match, which will tip-off at 3.30pm on Monday, January 2, will form part of the Welsh side’s preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games qualifiers.

While for the Big Cats, it will be a chance to get the Christmas break out of their system before they face a home double header against Manchester Giants (January 6) and Worthing Thunder (January 8), both at their Brentwood home.

Wales finished seventh in this summer’s FIBA Europe Small Nations Championship in Moldova, beating Gibraltar 67-40 in their final game to avoid the wooden spoon.

Since then they have undergone a change of coach, with Kings Lynn Fury play-caller James Bamfield taking over, and Leopards were pleased to help their former Division One rival.

“It should be a great game for us and a chance to get rid of the Christmas cobwebs,” said general manager Dave Ryan.

“It’s a fantastic venue at Oaklands, and they’ve staged junior international games and camps before.

“We’re hoping for a big crowd as it’s the end of a long break, and it’s the chance to see something a bit different.”

The game will be played with NBA-length quarters of 12 minutes, rather than the normal 10.

Early bird ticket offers can be found at www.leopardsbasketball.co.uk