The 5 Year players lead off rep season

Wanganui's Ray Coker competes at the 2016 edition of the Academy 5-Year and Under Hexagonal.

The Bowls Wanganui Inc representative season gets underway today as five centre teams will converge on town for the Academy 5-Year and Under Hexagonal.

The men's and women's tournaments are for developing players who have been playing bowls for five years or less.

They will compete over five rounds in singles, pairs, triples and four's games.

Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke's Bay and Kapiti Coast send teams to the Hexagonal.

Men's coach Grant Winterburn said some of the team will be able to progress to join Wanganui 8-Year and Under squad to contest the Arnott & Duckett representative tournament.

"The guys have been really performing well in practices."

At last year's tournaments, Wanganui finished back in the pack with the men coming sixth and the women fifth.

The first round starts at 9.15am today and will begin on Sunday at 8.30am.

The men's games are at the Wanganui Bowling Club, while the women's games are at Laird Park Bowling Club.

Wanganui teams are

Men: Shane Broderson, Ray Coker, Danny Collins, Russell Duggan, Anthony Hanna, Kerry Howard, Laurie Hunt, Merv Roebuck, Russell Terrey, Ricky Winterburn, Graeme Purvis (Reserve).
Selectors: Keith Schultz; Coach: Grant Winterburn; Manager: Graeme Tauri.

Women: Christine Browne, Shirley Dollimore, Martha Hourigan, Karen Hunt, Louise Morahan, Ann Morgan, Jess Power, Jenny Redshaw, Gaylene Reid, Adrienne Richdale.
Selector/Coach: Reen Stratford.