Wales manager hikes Snowdon on her own at dawn to deliver historic announcement
Wales manager hikes Snowdon on her own at dawn to deliver historic announcement
Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson just decided she was going to head up herself on that very morning.
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson climbed the mountain to deliver her press conference
(Image: FAW )
Wales manager Rhian Wilkinson scaled Yr Wyddfa on her own ahead of the squad announcement for Euro 2025.
With the European Championships just over two weeks away, Wilkinson announced her 23-player collective from Eryri National Park, and more specifically - the summit of the highest peak. The press, along with the FAW media team, Rhiannon Roberts and Olivia Clark took the train to the top, but Wales boss Wilkinson decided she would go one better and climb the mountain herself at the crack of dawn.
For everyone else, it was a 7.30am departure from Llanberis train station, a one hour journey in total, ready for the announcement at 9am from Hafod Eryri - the epic viewpoint atop the mountain.
For Wilkinson though, she was already there at 7.15am, book in hand and welcomed by a truly glorious north Walian morning - and it took her only 90 minutes.
Having visited Eryri National Park on multiple occasions as a child, she has fond memories of the area, which reminds her of her late father. Her parents spent their honeymoon there and a ceremony was held at Yr Wyddfa following his passing.
For Wales, the location of the announcement was a symbolisation of the recent ascent of Welsh women's football, making it to their first ever major tournament.
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Wilkinson's solo journey may have presented an opportunity to truly reflect on the recent success of the team, shortly before the media storm began. However, with such a busy schedule, it was a welcome change of pace in the chaos, so she put on a political podcast and got moving.
The Wales squad announcement was made in a unique way.
(Image: FAW )
It was a stunning day in the national park.
(Image: FAW )
"I actually debated whether I was going to listen to something," she began.
"I feel ready. I'm excited, but not over-excited. I know I'll be nervous, I know the team will be nervous, but I'm not overwhelmed by it.
"With this walk, I knew it was going to be special but I didn't realise how many people were going to be here. I think it's fantastic.
"I just caught up on things because it's been a really heavy week. We had a training camp last week, this week. I had a Senedd event on Tuesday. On Monday we were finalising gameplans.
"My days have been so long. It's just been nice, more than anything, to just walk on my own and not think about the the tournament.
"Just listening to political podcasts and catching up on the news, because I've been out of it! The same stuff and unfortunately... Trump!"
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Angharad James will skipper her country in Switzerland, and is one of four centurions named, alongside Jess Fishlock, Hayley Ladd and Sophie Ingle.
Ingle makes her return after missing the entire season with a serious knee injury, which she sustained while playing for Chelsea in a pre-season friendly last September.
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At 1,085 metres above sea level, climbing Yr Wyddfa in North Wales is not for the faint-hearted. But Wilkinson trekked to the top in under 90 minutes – 'I was listening to political podcasts that were getting me angry so I stormed up,' she said – and hopes the breathtaking vistas overlooking the Eryri National Park will be matched by on-pitch sights in Switzerland. Squad announcement settings 😍🏔️ — Wales 🏴 (@Cymru) June 19, 2025 Wales may be entering their first major tournament next month as the competition's lowest-ranked team in 31st spot, but Wilkinson – the 181-times capped Canada international with Welsh ancestry – insists her players are ready to conquer 'their Everest'. 'We've used the mountain as a theme and an image throughout this campaign,' said Wilkinson, whose ties to Yr Wyddfa run deep as her parents honeymooned in the area and her family held a ceremony on the mountain in memory of her late father. 'It (qualifying) was always going to be an uphill battle with little setbacks. As we've moved towards the Euros we've talked about the summit, the Everest part of it. That something is impossible until it isn't. 'Outside Wales people can think whatever they want. Our goal is to show up and deliver to the best of our ability. I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.' Wilkinson's squad is a mixture of young and old, with seven players having fewer than 20 caps. There also four centurions present, with star forward Jess Fishlock – 'the face of Wales', according to Wilkinson – skipper Angharad James, Sophie Ingle and Hayley Ladd. Ingle's inclusion was the main talking point as the 141-times capped former captain has not played since suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in September. The 33-year-old midfielder has completed her recovery work at Chelsea, although she left the Women's Super League champions last month after seven years and is among five unattached players in the squad. Wilkinson said: 'We needed to make sure that Sophie was in a good place. She's still on her path to full fitness but in a position now where she can contribute, which is important for us. 'I don't want to get into it (what role Ingle will be able to play) specifically because Sophie's pushing, she's looking really good in training. 'She has to be able to contribute in some way, that was the pre-requisite that I had. 'When she was able to meet that, she was straight into the squad.' 🏴 Representing Wales in their historic #WEURO2025 campaign ✨ — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) June 19, 2025 Wales open their campaign against the Netherlands in Lucerne on July 5 before playing France and England. Three unnamed players will be part of the training camp in Switzerland, with the squad first preparing for the Euros with a week-long stay in Portugal. 'It's felt a bit heavy,' Wilkinson said about squad selection. 'You know when you've those big decisions looming you're going to hurt someone. 'It's the worst part of a dream job. For these people it's their dream and can push them onto great things.'
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