From the summit of Wales’ highest peak to the pinnacle of European football, Rhian Wilkinson is determined to make Wales a name known far beyond its borders.
The national team head coach symbolically unveiled her UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 squad from the top of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), underscoring a message she’s delivered throughout her tenure: this journey is nothing less than Wales’ own Everest.
Wilkinson, who climbed the mountain herself early Thursday morning, tied the physical effort to the metaphorical challenge ahead.
“The mountain we’ve used as a theme because it was always going to be an uphill battle,” she explained.
“We were going to have little setbacks, but what is mountaineering? Exactly that, the challenge of steeper parts and flattening off, all these parallels you can make.
"As we’ve moved towards the Euro’s we’ve started talking more about this summit, the Everest part, that something is impossible until it isn’t, and we’re there.”
The 43-year-old’s words carried not only ambition but also deep personal emotion. Wilkinson, who is half-Welsh, has strong family connections to Yr Wyddfa.
“This was a special mountain for my family,” she said. “My parents had their honeymoon up here, but equally we used to come up here as kids. When my father died we had a little ceremony for him right out here.”
This fusion of personal legacy and national pride fuels Wilkinson’s broader mission — to help Wales take its place on the world football map.
“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.”
It’s an inspiring outlook from a coach who took charge in early 2024 and has already made a significant impact, with the team losing only one game by more than a goal under her leadership.
Wilkinson also brings proven pedigree, having guided the Portland Thorns to an NWSL title and previously served as a top-level assistant with both Canada and England.
Her team’s qualification for Euro 2025 — the country’s first major women’s tournament — is already historic. But Wilkinson insists they are not just there to participate.
Wales, ranked 30th in the world, have drawn a tough group featuring European heavyweights England, France, and the Netherlands.
Yet the squad boasts a core of experienced leaders including centurions Jess Fishlock, Hayley Ladd, captain Angharad James, and the returning Sophie Ingle — all crucial to Wilkinson’s plans.
Ingle’s selection is particularly significant, having come back from a serious ACL injury sustained last September.
“We needed to make sure that Sophie was in a good place,” Wilkinson said.
“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 [what role Ingle will be able to play] specifically because Sophie’s pushing, she’s looking really good in training.
“Sophie has to be able to contribute at some stage, that was the prerequisite I had, and when she was able to meet that she was straight into the squad.”
Fishlock, now 38, remains a towering presence in midfield, still playing at a high level in the U.S. with Seattle Reign. Wilkinson had high praise for the Welsh icon:
“She is the face of Wales.”
Midfield leadership will be key to Wales’ hopes of defying expectations, and Wilkinson believes the chemistry and experience within her squad gives them a fighting chance.
Still, the emotional weight of the final squad announcement was not lost on the coach, who had to leave out several dedicated players.
“I hope I’ve been really clear that the names that are not on this list have given everything for their country,” she explained.
“Those phone calls when I had to break their heart were, and are always are going to be, the worst part of my job. These are people’s careers, good people and great players, who just didn’t make the cut.
"But equally, with my staff, we’ve worked really hard to make sure the names that are on there are on there for the right reasons, and because they’re healthy and ready to represent their country.”
Before heading to Switzerland, the team will travel to Portugal for a week-long training camp on the Algarve. Their base during the tournament will be in Lipperswil, located in north-east Switzerland near Lake Constance.
Over 2,000 Welsh fans are expected to travel to support the team in Lucerne and St Gallen — despite Wales being the lowest-ranked team in the tournament.
But with Wilkinson at the helm and a squad full of belief, they arrive not to make up the numbers, but to make history.
“We’ve used the mountain as a theme and an image throughout this campaign,” Wilkinson said.
“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.
“I am sure people will be looking up Wales on a map very soon.”
READ MORE: Sophie Ingle Makes Wales’ Euros Squad After Year Out Injured
