Page 21 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.33 2021-22

Wales to play New Zealand

Gemma Grainger’s Wales side will take on New
Zealand, next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup
hosts, in an international challenge match on
Tuesday 28th June (6pm kick off BST) in the
Pinatar Arena in Spain.
The two sides last met in June 2019, when a
Kayleigh Green goal in injury time secured a 1-0
win for Wales in drizzly conditions at the Leckwith
Stadium in Cardiff. The match will see a return to
south east Spain for Grainger’s side, after
competing in the 2022 Pinatar Cup in February.
New Zealand, ranked 22nd in the world, will be hosting next year’s FIFA Women’s World
Cup alongside Australia. Wales are currently sitting in second place in their Qualifying Round
group in the bid to reach the tournament down under and will hope to secure a play-off spot
with two matches remaining, away to Greece and home to Slovenia in September.
Gemma Grainger told faw.cymru: “This is a great opportunity for our preparation ahead
of the final qualifying round group matches in September. This is the next step in the growth
of the team.
“New Zealand are a higher ranked opposition, and we want to continue with that
mentality of challenging ourselves in different ways.”
Wales Under-17 training camp

Loren Dykes’ Wales Under-17 squad are already looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, with a
training camp taking place at Colliers Park next week.
The side were forced to withdraw from the recent Round Two of the 2022 UEFA WU17
EURO qualifiers due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but will meet up for the four day camp
ahead of next season.
Nine of the players involved play their club football in Wales and in the Genero Adran
Leagues, including Cardiff City Women’s Lily Billingham. Her goalscoring performance
earned her the Player of the Match award as the Bluebirds lifted this season’s FAW Women’s
Cup.
The draws for next season’s UEFA WU17 and WU19 competitions are scheduled to take
place on Tuesday 31st May.
Wales Under-17 training camp squad:
Ruby Burnell (Chichester & Selsey), Elen Valentine (Birmingham City), Amelia Forking
(Cardiff City Women), Bethan Thomas (Liverpool), Lili Jones (Wrexham), Megan Bowen
(Barry Town United), Scarlett McMahon (Torquay United), Manon Pearce (Barry Town
United), Claudia Jones (Liverpool), Maisie Miller (Brighton & Hove Albion), Faye Knox
(Liverpool), Amy Hare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Niamh Duggan (Reading FC Women),
Jessica Collyer (West Ham United), Lily Billingham (Cardiff City Women), Madison Williams
(Llandudno), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City), Tia Lockley (The New Saints), Ellie Jones (Bristol
City), Efa Preece-Jones (Pontypridd Town), Olivia Owen (West Bromwich Albion), Gwennan
Horgan (Swansea City).
(faw.cymru)
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Issue no. 33 - 5 May 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk