CYMRU’S hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup remain alive after Rhian Wilkinson’s side secured their place in this autumn’s play-offs.

The national side finished top of League B Group B1 in the UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers, collecting 14 points from six matches and ending three points clear of Czechia.

Cymru won four games and drew two, scoring 17 goals and conceding five, before sealing first place with a 3-1 victory over Czechia in Cardiff.

Play-off draw

The play-off draw will take place on Thursday, June 18, with 32 nations still in contention for Europe’s remaining places at the tournament in Brazil.

The play-offs will be played over two rounds of home-and-away ties.

As one of the four League B group winners, Cymru will enter Path 2 alongside the four nations who finished bottom of their League A groups.

Those eight seeded teams will be drawn against nations who finished second or third in the League B groups, with the seeded sides hosting the second leg.

Cymru’s possible first-round opponents are Czechia, Türkiye, Finland, Belgium, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Israel and Albania.

Familiar opponents

A tie against Czechia would bring another meeting between two sides who have already faced each other twice in qualifying.

Cymru drew 2-2 away before beating Czechia 3-1 in Cardiff to secure top spot.

Albania are also among the possible opponents, having been in Cymru’s qualifying group. Wilkinson’s side beat them 1-0 away and 4-0 at home.

The first round of play-off ties will be played between October 7 and October 13.

What Cymru need

To qualify for the World Cup, Cymru must win both their first-round and second-round play-off ties.

The eight Path 2 winners will advance to Round 2, where they will face the winners from Path 1, which includes teams from Leagues A and C.

Those ties will be played between November 26 and December 5.

Eight teams will win through from Round 2, but only seven will qualify automatically for the World Cup. The seven highest-ranked winners, based on the overall UEFA Women’s European Qualifiers rankings, will go directly to Brazil.

The remaining Round 2 winner will enter the FIFA Women’s World Cup Inter-Confederation Play-Offs in February 2027 for one final chance to qualify.

Brazil will host the FIFA Women’s World Cup from June 24 to July 25, 2027.

New Hedges/Saundersfoot United praised after another sell-out fundraiser

A COMMUNITY football club in Pembrokeshire is being praised after raising money for two important causes through another packed charity evening in Saundersfoot.

New Hedges/Saundersfoot United (NHSU) hosted a sell-out event at Regency Hall on Saturday night, bringing together local residents, supporters and well-known faces for an evening of entertainment and fundraising.

The event featured an appearance by Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams, comedian Lenny Dee, a silent auction and fundraising activities in support of the Maxwell Family Genomics Fund and Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity.

Organisers said the evening highlighted the power of community spirit in Pembrokeshire and the difference local support can make to charities which rely heavily on fundraising to continue their work.

Sandy Bear Children’s Bereavement Charity supports children and young people coping with bereavement across west Wales, offering specialist help to families facing difficult circumstances.

Support for families

The Maxwell Family Genomics Fund also benefited from the evening, with money raised helping efforts linked to medical research and support for affected families.

The event was organised by New Hedges/Saundersfoot United, a club increasingly earning a reputation for successful charity fundraising alongside its sporting activities.

Saturday’s fundraiser marked the third consecutive sell-out charity event hosted by the club, following previous popular evenings featuring former Wales striker John Hartson and former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.

Club praised

Local supporters have praised NHSU for creating events that not only entertain but also raise substantial sums for good causes at a time when many charities face growing financial pressures.

One organiser said community fundraising remained vital, particularly for smaller charities that often struggle to secure long-term funding.

Without local backing, many organisations helping vulnerable families would simply be unable to continue their work.

The evening at Regency Hall was widely described by attendees as another major success for the club and a reflection of the strong community spirit in Saundersfoot and New Hedges.

Photo caption:

Charity night success: Guests gathered at Regency Hall, Saundersfoot, for New Hedges/Saundersfoot United’s latest sell-out fundraising evening (Pics: Darth Marty Media).

MORE than 90 runners took to the streets and paths around Cardigan on Friday evening (June 5) for the annual Ras Y Castell 10k.

The race, organised by Cardigan Running Club, followed a brand new 10-kilometre course starting in the grounds of Cardigan Castle.

The route took runners past Castle Green House before heading through the town, across the old bridge over the River Teifi, and along the Teifi Marshes footpath towards the Welsh Wildlife Centre.

Competitors then continued to Cilgerran, completing a loop through the village and passing its 12th-century castle before retracing their steps back to Cardigan.

A final climb up Grosvenor Hill brought runners back into the castle grounds and over the finish line.

The event came in a special year for Cardigan Castle, which later this month celebrates the 850th anniversary of the birthplace of the first Eisteddfod.

The supplied results named Riche Norris as first finisher, with Llion Williams and Owain Rowlands also among the leading men.

The first female finisher was Bethan Williams of Emlyn Runners in 43 minutes 56 seconds. Cardigan Running Club’s Leanne Roberts was second in 44 minutes 34 seconds, with Delyth Griffiths third in 47 minutes 25 seconds.

Winners received their awards in the castle grounds, where runners also enjoyed a free barbecue after the race.

Cardigan Running Club’s next events will be the Summer Poppit Sands races, with the first of three taking place on Tuesday, July 21.

Images: Stuart Ladd