Nineteen players have been called up for Cymru’s first ever training camp at WU23s level, which will take place during the October international window.
Cymru WU19s Head Coach Nia Davies will lead the camp with former Cymru international Kayleigh Barton, Swansea City Head Coach Yzzy Taylor, and the FAW’s National Academi Manager Brad Flay as Assistant Coaches.
Several players involved in the upcoming Women’s National Team camp will be involved, with overlap across both camps. A number of players that were involved in last season’s WU19 squad but have since graduated from that age group are also in the squad. Also included is Faye Knox who plays for Wrexham in the Genero Adran Premier.
The camp will take place at the FAW HQ in Hensol, overlapping with the Women’s National Team camp to allow close collaboration between players and staff of both sides. Some players’ involvement will overlap across both camps.
Work has been ongoing behind the scenes for several years to introduce a WU23s side to the player pathway, with several European nations starting WU23 age group sides despite the lack of an official UEFA WU23s competition. This training camp has been made possible with support from National Lottery funding.
The introduction of the age group will also support Cymru’s Talent ID programme, which looks to identify new future talent both in Wales and outside of Wales, whether through birth or heritage.
The camp will finish with an uncapped behind closed doors match against WSL 2 side Watford at the FAW HQ, arranged through former Cymru international and current Watford Head of Women’s & Girls Football Helen Ward.
Cymru WU23: Cadi DORAN (Kidderminster Harriers- On loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hope MCSHEFFREY (Bristol City), Lucy DAY (West Bromwich Albion), Shurima VINE (Cheltenham Town), Casi EVANS (Cheltenham Town), Charlotte SALISBURY-WILLIAMS (Cheltenham Town), Amelie CURTIS (Cheltenham Town), Nia LEWIS (Bristol City- Dual signing at Exeter), Elena COLE (Bournemouth), Keira O’KEEFE (Cheltenham Town), Ffion BOWEN (Leicester City), Lleucu MATHIAS (Durham), Emily GIDDINGS (Bristol City), Chloe GIDDINGS (Bristol City), Jessie ARCHIBALD (Southampton), Faye KNOX (Wrexham), Tianna TEISAR (Watford), Heidi HILLS (Tottenham Hotspur), Cadi RODGERS (Plymouth Argyle).
