Rhiannon Roberts: Wales defender has no club but focus is on Euro 2025

Roberts won the first of her 79 caps 10 years ago.

She says the wait for a first major finals appearance has been too long to let the lack of clarity on her future come into her thinking.

Wales’ journey to the European Championship has included qualification near-misses, one of which came in Switzerland.

Roberts was a goalscorer as Wales led the Swiss in Zurich in a World Cup play-off in 2022, only for the hosts to triumph with seconds remaining in extra-time, denying Gemma Grainger’s side in the cruellest of fashions.

“I’ve never felt heartbreak like that, to be honest,” Roberts said.

“I’d rather have lost on penalties. I didn’t sleep for two weeks and had to get sleeping tablets by the end.

“I remember going on the next camp and we did a review and I thought ‘oh, I can’t see this again’.”

Happily, Roberts is one of 17 of the 23 players involved in that Switzerland defeat who eventually reached a major tournament under Rhian Wilkinson.

“Everything shapes us to be the people we are. Maybe if that had gone differently, we wouldn’t be in this moment now either,” Roberts added.

“It’s like everything paved the way for this to be the year. Going back hasn’t got anything to do with being there now and giving our best while we’re there.”