Interim Head Coach Jon Grey has confirmed his coaching staff ahead of Wales Women’s match against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Tuesday 27 February.
Former Wales international and record goal scorer Helen Ward joins up as an Assistant Coach, having recently obtained her UEFA B Licence through the FAW Coach Education system. Ward retired from international football in February 2023 and the camp will mark her return to the international setup.
James Rowberry will also join up with the coaching setup for the international window as an Assistant Coach. UEFA Pro Licence holder Rowberry is currently the FAW’s Head of Elite Coach Education and was previously Head Coach of Newport County and First Team Coach for Cardiff City.
As well as his Coach Education role within the FAW, Rowberry is regularly involved with the National Team setup as a Head Coach for the MU15/MU16 teams.
Speaking about the appointments, Jon Grey said: “I am delighted that both Helen and James will be involved in the camp later this month, bringing with them their extensive knowledge and experience of the international game. As a group I am positive that we can prepare the squad to be in the best place possible ahead of the qualifiers which will start in April, building on the learnings of the recent Nations League campaign.”
Helen Ward said: “I was extremely fortunate to experience the highs and lows of international football with some incredible teammates through my 15-year Cymru career. I hope that those experiences and the learnings from my recent coaching qualifications can help aid the team in a different role as we look to qualify for our first ever major tournament. I’m honoured to be involved again with such a special group and I can’t wait to get started.”
James Rowberry said: “It will be a privilege to be involved with the team later this month and I can’t wait to get started with the players and staff. It will be a great opportunity to build on the experiences from the recent Nations League campaign against strong opposition that were in last year’s World Cup, as we look to reach our first major tournament as a nation.”
The match in Dublin will be Cymru’s final preparations ahead of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifiers. The draw for the qualifiers takes place on Tuesday 5th March, with the first round of matches match taking place in the first week of April.
