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Harding in line for 100th Wales cap as 19-year-old Rogers eyes debut

News, Sport | Rhys Williams | Published: 14:15, Wednesday April 6th, 2022.
Last updated: 14:15, Wednesday April 6th, 2022

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Natasha Harding, left, and Morgan Rogers are both in the Wales squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers
Natasha Harding, left, and Morgan Rogers are both in the Wales squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Wales midfielder Natasha Harding, who grew up in Hengoed, is in line to earn her 100th international cap – with Fleur de Lys’ Morgan Rogers called up to the senior squad for the first time.

Wales play France at Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli on Friday, April 8, before heading to Nur-Sultan to take on Kazakhstan on Tuesday, April 12 – with a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup up for grabs.

Reading star Harding, 33, is currently on 98 caps for Wales, so could become a centurion against Kazakhstan.

Harding, who attended Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, made her international debut back in 2008, aged just 19 – coming off the bench in a 2-0 defeat away to Switzerland.

She made her senior club debut for Cardiff City a year earlier – playing for the team until 2012 before moving to Bristol Academy. In 2015, Harding joined Manchester City, making ten appearances before switching to Liverpool for the 2016/17 season.

After scoring 11 goals in 29 games for Liverpool, Harding joined current club Reading in 2018.

Meanwhile 19-year-old Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Rogers, who is currently on loan at Watford, will be hoping to make her senior debut for Wales.

Rogers, who also attended Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, has played at various age-ranges at youth level for Wales – captaining her country at Under-15 level.


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While at Cwm Rhymni, Rogers helped the school win the Play More Football School of the Year, having spent been one of the programme’s directors of football and coaching younger pupils.

Her Watford teammate, striker Helen Ward – who is Wales’ record goal scorer, currently has 99 caps and is expected to earn her 100th against France.

Speaking to BBC Sport Wales about the two potential-centurions, Wales manager Gemma Grainger said: “It’s not an easy feat to get anywhere near that number – it’s a very exclusive club.

“I think it’s a measure of them as people, I think it’s a measure of their love that they have for the national team. They’re going to get over the line of 100 caps and then who knows?”

Grainger added: “The hurdles they have faced as female footballers is very different to that male experience.

“For us, for those two, the game will have been semi-professional when they first started.

“Their career will have looked different over the past ten, 15 years, but are they in a place now where we’re going to celebrate that and really recognise them? Absolutely.”

Wales currently sit in second place in Qualifying Group I, which would earn them a play-off spot – with four games remaining.

So far, Wales have four wins, one draw and one defeat – scoring 17 goals and conceding just three.

The defeat came against France in Guingamp, Brittany, back in November, with France running out 2-0 winners.

In Wales’ previous meeting with Kazakhstan, which was played at Parc y Scarlets, Wales earned a convincing 6-0 win.

The 2023 World Cup will be held in Australia and New Zealand.

Wales squad to face France and Kazakhstan

Laura O’Sullivan (Cardiff City Ladies),

Olivia Clark (Coventry United),

Poppy Soper (Plymouth Argyle – On loan from Chelsea),

Rhiannon Roberts (Liverpool),

Josie Green (Tottenham Hotspur),

Hayley Ladd (Manchester United),

Gemma Evans (Reading),

Rachel Rowe (Reading),

Lily Woodham (Reading),

Sophie Ingle (Chelsea),

Anna Filbey (Charlton Athletic),

Angharad James (Orlando Pride),

Chloe Williams (Manchester United),

Charlie Estcourt (Coventry United),

Jess Fishlock (OL Reign),

Carrie Jones (Manchester United),

Ffion Morgan (Bristol City),

Megan Wynne (Charlton Athletic),

Elise Hughes (Charlton Athletic),

Kayleigh Green (Brighton & Hove Albion),

Helen Ward (Watford),

Natasha Harding (Reading),

Ceri Holland (Liverpool),

Chloe Bull (Bristol City),

Georgia Walters (Sheffield United),

Morgan Rogers (Watford- On loan from Tottenham Hotspur).

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