Cadi and Mared train with full Cymru squad
The Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor students have shared their experience of mixing with senior Cymru stars such as Jess Fishlock and Sophie Ingle
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor students Cadi Rodgers and Mared Griffiths trained with the Cymru squad for the recent qualifiers against Croatia and Kosovo.
Rhian Wilkinson’s side won 3-0 in Croatia and beat Kosovo 2-0 to top their group and secure a seeded place in the play-off qualifiers for next year’s European Championship.
Cadi and Mared are regulars for Cymru under-17s, and were called up to the full squad for the huge double-header.
The Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor students did not feature in the games, but gained invaluable experience of training with senior stars such as Sophie Ingle and all-time record goalscorer Jess Fishlock.
In a video shared by the Football Association of Wales, winger Mared said: “It’s been an experience and a half playing with players of that quality and it’s really important that we learn from those players and develop together.”
Defender Cadi said mixing with the senior players had reaffirmed her ambitions within the game.
“I’ve enjoyed everything here,” said Cadi. “I’m learning from big players so it’s a great experience.”
“It would be a dream for me to be able to play professionally. You hear from all these players how much they enjoy it, so it would be great to do the same.”
Pictures: FAW
Cadi has just completed her first year of AS Levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor’s Dolgellau campus. Mared is halfway through her Level 3 BTEC in Business, also at Dolgellau.
Both students play for the FAW Girls Academy North, and are among a group of young Cymru players who have progressed together through the age groups.
Mared said: “We’ve been together through the age groups from the U15s to now, so I feel that we’ve all built a good friendship together. As we progress into the senior team, those friendships will help us be better on the pitch.”
After winning Qualifying Group B4, Cymru’s women’s team have earned the chance to qualify for their first ever major tournament.
They will be seeded for a two-legged play-off in October, and should they win that, they will go through to a final play-off round in November. The draw for the play-offs will be made in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday.
Cymru have also earned promotion to League A for the 2025 Nations League campaign.