Wilkinson suggests Wales players are to retire

Rhian Wilkinson has suggested some members of her Wales squad are poised to retire from international football.

Wales play their first game since Euro 2025 when they meet Australia in a friendly at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 25 October.

Advertisement

Influential midfielder Jess Fishlock, 38, said after the summer tournament that she needed to think about her international future.

Former captain Sophie Ingle and defender Rhiannon Roberts were among the other senior figures in Wales' European Championship squad alongside striker Kayleigh Barton, who hung up her boots last month.

Wilkinson has indicated others could bid farewell to Wales duty when they meet Australia.

"I think it's an important game for those players that are going to retire, to play at home one more time," she said.

Advertisement

"I think for our fans we never played a send-off game [before Euro 2025], it didn't work with our Nations League A games.

"So [it is] an opportunity to play one of the top teams in the world again at home, but also to thank a few of our players for how much they've given to their country."

Fishlock, Wales' most-capped player and leading goal scorer, signed a new one-year deal with National Women's Soccer League side Seattle Reign last November.

Advertisement

She said in the immediate aftermath of Euro 2025 that she would "have a little think" about her Wales future.

Roberts, 35, joined Sunderland on a two-year deal in July while 34-year-old Ingle agreed a two-year contract at Bristol City last month having left Chelsea.

Crystal Palace's Josie Green and recent Nottingham Forest signing Rachel Rowe, both 32, were among the other senior figures in Wales' Euros squad.

'Wise woman' Barton has ambitions to coach with Wales

Wales to face Australia in October Cardiff friendly

'Decades behind' Wales to invest in post-Euro 2025 pathway

Goalkeeper Laura O'Sullivan-Jones, who missed the tournament through injury, is 34.

Advertisement

Wilkinson says Wales must continue to bring younger players through as they attempt to kick on again after reaching the landmark of qualifying for a major championship.

"Absolutely this will be a transitional period and that's something exciting," she added.

"We've blooded a lot of our young players, we do that a lot. We'll always rely on our experience but we need to have new blood, new youth coming through and it looks pretty exciting."

Click here to read article