Welsh Fire: History and Profile of the Cardiff Hundred Franchise

Origins

Welsh Fire are the Welsh franchise in The Hundred, one of eight teams announced in 2019 and first in action in 2021. They are based in Cardiff and play at Sophia Gardens, the home of Glamorgan County Cricket Club. They are the only one of the eight teams that represents Wales rather than an English city or region.

The Hundred is an English franchise competition run by the England and Wales Cricket Board, first played in 2021. Each innings lasts 100 balls, and men’s and women’s sides from the same eight franchises play at shared venues.

Home ground: Sophia Gardens

Sophia Gardens, on the banks of the River Taff, has hosted international cricket since 2009, when it staged an Ashes Test, and has since held limited-overs internationals and Test matches. The ground sits close to Cardiff city centre, which suits the evening-fixture, family-friendly approach of The Hundred.

Like any venue, conditions can change with the weather and the preparation, so no single description of the pitch holds for every match.

Identity

The franchise has its own name and branding, separate from Glamorgan’s traditional identity, as part of the wider effort to present the new competition as something fresh.

Results

As of the end of 2024, Welsh Fire had not won the men’s or women’s Hundred title. The franchise has continued to develop its audience in south Wales, and detailed seasonal results are best checked against official records.

Squad building

Teams assemble squads through a draft that allocates players to price bands, supplemented by wildcard picks and replacements for unavailable players. Rosters therefore change from year to year, and this profile does not name current players, captains or coaches.

Significance for Welsh cricket

Having a Welsh team in a national competition gave Welsh cricket a platform in front of large crowds and a broadcast audience. The franchise shares a venue with Glamorgan but has built its own following, and it remains a notable part of the competition’s geographic spread.