Full World Games carp and match fishing coverage is in Angler’s Mail magazine this week – but the England Lure Fishing Team did not compete.

England Lure Fishing Team supremo Steve Collett decided not to waste money on a ‘jolly’.

Instead, Steve is already focused upon preparing for the 2020 World Lure Champs in Poland.

Dozens of event across all disciplines took place in South Africa for the World Games, which is rated as fishing’s equivalent to the Olympics.

Angler’s Mail magazine columnist Steve said: “I’d have loved to have gone out there for a jolly, but there was no point being so close to last autumn’s World Champs held here at Rutland.

“We’re still licking our wounds after that and going to South Africa would have been another drubbing which the boys don’t need.

“Because of the huge cost it would have been just eligible for those able to afford it, and I’m training to build a young team, hungry to learn and with good team spirit.

“My remit is to improve us, not to just go through the motions, so we decided not to go to South Africa.

“It’s not like the men’s coarse team who don’t have to pay and just turn up and sit on a box and fish.

“At Rutland alone it cost us £10,000, and South Africa would have been much, much higher.