Great Britain will compete in the World Championships for the first time after being given the honour of hosting a qualifying round.

Britain will host first round matches in January - likely to be in Sheffield - for the 2010 finals in Italy.

In the men's tournament, the GB team, which could have as many as six Scots in it, face Israel and Iceland.

Scottish players are also well represented in the women's squad and the GB team have also been drawn in an opening group with Iceland and Israel with Portugal also in the section.

Sheffield has hosted World Championship matches before but Scotland, England and Northern Ireland entered under separate banners.