Latest news with #RhiannonRoberts
BBC News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales defender Roberts joins Sunderland
Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts has signed for Sunderland on a two-year deal following her departure from Spanish side Real 34-year-old, capped 79 times by her country, is currently in Switzerland with the Wales squad for Euro will join up with her new Sunderland teammates for pre-season following the conclusion of the head coach Mel Reay told the club website: "We are thrilled to be able to bring Rhiannon to Sunderland. "She is a player who is aligned to our vision and brings an abundance of international and Super League experience. This will add huge value to our team along with her exceptional leadership qualities."
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Without a club, but Wales' Roberts focuses on Euros
Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts says she will put her future to one side this summer as she gets set to head to the Euros without a 34, has spent the past two seasons with Real Betis having joined the Spanish side in 2023 following a spell at Roberts has left Betis at the end of her contract, making her one of three unattached players in Rhian Wilkinson's squad for Griffiths is also without a club after finishing her deal at Southampton, while goalkeeper Poppy Soper is looking for her next move after leaving the returning Sophie Ingle is leaving Chelsea after seven years this summer and Hannah Cain will leave Leicester City at the end of her says the profile of Wales' first appearance at a women's major tournament will provide "a shop window" for players like her - but insists questions over what comes next at club level are not on her mind."I just want to give it everything and just focus on Euros - I don't want to be focusing on anything else," Roberts said."I just want to go and give it my all. I want to purely focus on being there with my team, for my nation, and just putting my body on the line. I don't want to think about anything else." Sleepless nights from past Switzerland trip Roberts won the first of her 79 caps 10 years says the wait for a first major finals appearance has been too long to let the lack of clarity on her future come into her journey to the European Championship has included qualification near-misses, one of which came in Switzerland. Roberts was a goalscorer as Wales led the Swiss in Zurich in a World Cup play-off in 2022, only for the hosts to triumph with seconds remaining in extra-time, denying Gemma Grainger's side in the cruellest of fashions."I've never felt heartbreak like that, to be honest," Roberts said. "I'd rather have lost on penalties. I didn't sleep for two weeks and had to get sleeping tablets by the end."I remember going on the next camp and we did a review and I thought 'oh, I can't see this again'."Happily, Roberts is one of 17 of the 23 players involved in that Switzerland defeat who eventually reached a major tournament under Rhian Wilkinson. "Everything shapes us to be the people we are. Maybe if that had gone differently, we wouldn't be in this moment now either," Roberts added. "It's like everything paved the way for this to be the year. Going back hasn't got anything to do with being there now and giving our best while we're there." Roberts, a popular member of the Wales squad, hopes the wait to feature in a major tournament will be worth was given news of her inclusion in the squad during a telephone call with head coach Wilkinson."I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. I've been in squads for 10 years but you're still just waiting to hear that line of 'I'm taking you to the Euros, you're in the squad'," were further concerns for Roberts when she picked up a groin problem when with Wales for the Nations League games against Denmark and Italy earlier this summer."I just thought 'oh no, not now'," said Roberts, who suffered a grade-two groin tear."But I'm on the plane! It was terrible timing because I've always been so good at looking after myself and I think maybe it was a case of back-to-back seasons for six years catching up with me."But I've been back in the training pitch with the physio and hopefully when we go to Portugal for our camp I'll be with the team doing everything that I can possible to get myself on the pitch."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
What next for Wales as Euro 2025 awaits?
It was hardly the ideal what was Wales' final game before their first appearance at a major finals, Rhian Wilkinson's history-makers had a painful reminder of how tough it can be at the top level with a 4-1 Nations League defeat against a spirited second-half reaction in Swansea, a stunning Jess Fishlock goal and the self-awareness of head coach Wilkinson means that Wales will not dwell too all, with little less than a month to go before their opening game against the Netherlands in Lucerne on 5 July, they do not have the what lies in store for Wales between now and their European Championships bow?And what happens next for the women in red before it all gets under way in Switzerland? Next steps and injury updates Wilkinson and her fellow coaches will waste little time in analysing their final Nations League results, Wales having lost controversially in Denmark last week before the shocker against the Italians in Swansea.A camp debrief is planned in the next few days, not just looking back at the tactical aspects but the logistical with fellow staff and – in some cases – players will follow as Wales look to learn lessons and move on will also be required on some of the injuries suffered during the week. Rhiannon Roberts is thought to have picked up a groin problem on the eve of the game in Odense, but the noises are positive the centre-back will be fit for will also await results of a scan on exciting 18-year-old defender Mayzee Davies who suffered a suspected knee injury early in the 1-0 defeat to Denmark, with concern over the extent understandable. Optional camps for UK-based players Having gained vital minutes following a two-month injury lay-off – not to mention her wonder goal - Fishlock will now return to the United States and club side Seattle Reign, as will captain Angharad James. The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) side have three fixtures before the division breaks for the summer, with the 38-year-old Fishlock able to get further into her inspirational stride before back in south Wales, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) will open the doors to its training base in the Vale of Glamorgan for domestic players for two optional training next week, with another the following week, players will be offered training days with coaches should they feel the is not a necessity, with some players recognised as needing downtime rather than more workload, and some who have featured less regularly eager for extra sessions. Conversations between individuals and coaching staff will help form the Barton is one player who could make the most of the time after her recent injury; the Charlton Athletic forward formed part of the squad for the past two fixtures but did not take to the is the potential that midfielder Sophie Ingle could be involved as she continues her recovery from the knee ligament injury that has ruled her out since with the former captain continuing her rehabilitation at Chelsea, Wales are relaxed over the next steps for the experienced Ingle given the relationship between FAW medical staff and those at the Women's Super League (WSL) champions, who Wilkinson this week praised for their work in getting Ingle back on the training pitch ahead of schedule. Squad announcement at Yr Wyddfa After the conclusion of the camps, players will return home as Wilkinson prepares to name her final squad selection for Switzerland on 19 fitting for a Euros tournament given the tagline of 'the summit of emotions', it will be revealed 1,085m above sea level at Wales' highest peak, Yr Wyddfa.A total of 23 players are likely to be named officially for the tournament but – as was the case with Wales and the men's World Cup in 2022 – extra training places could be offered to players to form part of the travelling squad. Preparations in Portugal Three days on, Wales will head to the Cascade resort in Portugal's Algarve for a pre-tournament training camp where work will really step up prior to is a venue the FAW is happy with from previous stays with the men's squad, while Wilkinson has also approved the facilities – including two Fifa-grade pitches – having spent time there during her stellar playing days over 183 caps with is thought an in-house game will take place here with Wilkinson having opted against arranging a friendly against non-European opposition as part of their build-up. The final countdown After the work in the sun, the squad will fly direct to Switzerland for the final touches to their warm-up at their team will stay in Weinfelden in the north of the country with the training complex having had the personal approval from staff have already spent time preparing the venue and adding extra touches including a gym and activation area on site, a media centre and two team will stay in a nearby hotel having booked it exclusively for their there, Wales will head to the games that they have made history to come the Netherlands on 5 July at the 16,496 capacity Allmend Stadion Luzern on the fourth day of the tournament. Then comes France in St Gallen on 9 July before their final group game in the same city against holders England on 13 July.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rhiannon Roberts proud to see Wales ‘bashing down barriers' for future stars
Rhiannon Roberts will be thinking of Wales players past, present and future when the team make their historic appearance at the Women's Euros in Switzerland this summer. The campaign will be their first at a major tournament finals, after they secured qualification in December with a play-off triumph over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. 'For us, for them, for her' is a slogan for the team that was launched by the Football Association of Wales in 2023. And, ahead of International Women's Day, 77-cap defender Roberts told the PA news agency: 'We love it and we just think it's us in a nutshell. 'We want to do the best for us, the best for people who have paved the way before us and broken down barriers, and we want to leave it in a better place for the next generation as well. 'We have to be thankful for what people have done in the past, appreciative of the position we're in now, and keep constantly bashing down those barriers for those to come and take our shirts later on.' Having played their first international in 1973, it was not until 1993 that the Wales women's team were officially recognised by the FAW. A decade later, the governing body withdrew them from Euro 2005 qualifiers with the cost of travel being cited, after they were drawn in a group with Belarus, Estonia, Israel and Kazakhstan. The transformation that followed has seen the team, managed by full-time head coaches since 2010, have some qualification near-misses before the dream was then realised with December's groundbreaking success. That was three years on from the FAW launching its first women's and girls strategy, and just under two after it announced an equal pay agreement with the women's and men's sides. Roberts, who made her Wales debut in 2015, said: 'We've just increased everything off the pitch. We're equal to the men now and in many ways, not just pay: our media team, medical team, coaching staff, everything off the pitch is equal to the men's. 'It's changed a lot – and it's changed on the pitch as well. It's been a roller coaster.' Wales' bid to reach the 2023 World Cup ended in a dramatic play-off against Switzerland, leading the second leg through an early Roberts goal before losing 2-1 after conceding in the final seconds of extra time. See you at the Euros 2025! Pack your bags, we're off to Switzerland 🤩🏴❤️ — Rhiannon Roberts (@RazzaRoberts) December 4, 2024 That 'heartbreaking' match, after which Roberts 'didn't sleep for probably a week', led to a steely focus going into the Euro qualifying campaign, and she admits while it was 'incredible' when history was sealed with the 3-2 aggregate win over the Republic, she 'only ever envisioned us celebrating.' Rhian Wilkinson's side face England, the Netherlands and France in Group D, and Roberts says Wales want to be 'brave', compete and make their families and country proud – adding with a smile that 'for us, for them, for her' is something she will have in mind 'always'. When the 34-year-old was a child, regularly attending Wrexham's men's games, the Wales women's team, she says, 'just wasn't on your radar, wasn't visible.' Former Blackburn, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Liverpool player Roberts married Nathan Rooney, currently head of football at Larne, in 2022, a wedding that included her scoring a goal in her white dress as guests took part in a women v men match, won by the former 5-0. Girls vs Boys ⚽️❤️The 1-2 with @jasminem250, the nutmeg finish followed by the BEST celebrations 🤣👰🏼#onlyatourwedding #razzarooney 💍 — Rhiannon Roberts (@RazzaRoberts) June 4, 2022 Footage went viral, and Roberts recently discovered team-mates at Real Betis, her club since 2023, were familiar with the video without knowing it was her who had starred. 'I said, 'yeah, that's me', and they went 'it was everywhere',' she said. 'I think I'll retweet that in June!'
The Independent
08-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Rhiannon Roberts proud to see Wales ‘bashing down barriers' for future stars
Rhiannon Roberts will be thinking of Wales players past, present and future when the team make their historic appearance at the Women's Euros in Switzerland this summer. The campaign will be their first at a major tournament finals, after they secured qualification in December with a play-off triumph over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. 'For us, for them, for her' is a slogan for the team that was launched by the Football Association of Wales in 2023. And, ahead of International Women's Day, 77-cap defender Roberts told the PA news agency: 'We love it and we just think it's us in a nutshell. 'We want to do the best for us, the best for people who have paved the way before us and broken down barriers, and we want to leave it in a better place for the next generation as well. 'We have to be thankful for what people have done in the past, appreciative of the position we're in now, and keep constantly bashing down those barriers for those to come and take our shirts later on.' Having played their first international in 1973, it was not until 1993 that the Wales women's team were officially recognised by the FAW. A decade later, the governing body withdrew them from Euro 2005 qualifiers with the cost of travel being cited, after they were drawn in a group with Belarus, Estonia, Israel and Kazakhstan. The transformation that followed has seen the team, managed by full-time head coaches since 2010, have some qualification near-misses before the dream was then realised with December's groundbreaking success. That was three years on from the FAW launching its first women's and girls strategy, and just under two after it announced an equal pay agreement with the women's and men's sides. Roberts, who made her Wales debut in 2015, said: 'We've just increased everything off the pitch. We're equal to the men now and in many ways, not just pay: our media team, medical team, coaching staff, everything off the pitch is equal to the men's. 'It's changed a lot – and it's changed on the pitch as well. It's been a roller coaster.' Wales' bid to reach the 2023 World Cup ended in a dramatic play-off against Switzerland, leading the second leg through an early Roberts goal before losing 2-1 after conceding in the final seconds of extra time. That 'heartbreaking' match, after which Roberts 'didn't sleep for probably a week', led to a steely focus going into the Euro qualifying campaign, and she admits while it was 'incredible' when history was sealed with the 3-2 aggregate win over the Republic, she 'only ever envisioned us celebrating.' Rhian Wilkinson's side face England, the Netherlands and France in Group D, and Roberts says Wales want to be 'brave', compete and make their families and country proud – adding with a smile that 'for us, for them, for her' is something she will have in mind 'always'. When the 34-year-old was a child, regularly attending Wrexham's men's games, the Wales women's team, she says, 'just wasn't on your radar, wasn't visible.' Former Blackburn, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Liverpool player Roberts married Nathan Rooney, currently head of football at Larne, in 2022, a wedding that included her scoring a goal in her white dress as guests took part in a women v men match, won by the former 5-0. Footage went viral, and Roberts recently discovered team-mates at Real Betis, her club since 2023, were familiar with the video without knowing it was her who had starred. 'I said, 'yeah, that's me', and they went 'it was everywhere',' she said. 'I think I'll retweet that in June!'
