Rachel Rowe has revealed she needed a new challenge, following her departure from Reading this summer.
Rowe had been with Reading since 2015, but departed after their relegation from the WSL, along with a host of other players.
“It was difficult to leave; it’s all I’ve ever known for the last eight years, but it was definitely time to change.
“I wanted to challenge myself with different things, off the field things, more leadership roles, and how I can develop as a player not just in my playing ability. It’s been a different challenge and there have been a lot of things that I need to improve on, and I think I can do that up in Scotland.”
That challenge in Scotland came in the form of Glasgow giants, Rangers. The Gers finished last season in third place in the SWPL 1, seven points behind winners Glasgow City.
Rowe believes the Scottish league is growing, a path that she’s hoping the Adran Leagues could potentially follow.
“Seeing the development within the Scottish league was a big attraction. It’s defiantly something that’s quite inspiring to me.
“The English league is its own thing, and it’s going on its own trajectory, and being from Wales, I feel like us and Scotland are quite similar, and it’s somewhere I’d like to see Wales get to with how their league is now.
“There are big differences between the leagues, but I feel like it’s going in the right direction, and it’s something I really looked forward to going up there.”
Now that a number of senior players have departed the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the role of captain has fallen to Wales’ Lily Woodham. Woodham may only be 23, but Rowe is backing the youngster to shine in the role.
“She’s a super professional, and some people may look at her and think, she’s a bit too young to be a captain, but she’s been around such a professional environment from a young age, and age is just a number with her.
“She has leadership qualities and of course every player wants to improve, but for her, keeping a level head and having that responsibility now of being captain and rallying the troops when they’re low is so important. It’s going to be so exciting to watch her take that weight and run with it.”
With her club career under full control, attention turns back to Wales and to the start of the Nations League campaign.
Having missed the USA game with a torn Soleus Tendon, Rowe is happy to be back and raring to go to start this brand-new competition.
“We’re really looking forward to playing in this new competition. Last campaign was obviously disappointing, but we’re looking forward to being part of something new and it’s exciting for us.
“Especially with it being a new way of potentially qualifying for the Euros, there’s a lot of excitement in the group.”
During the last year of friendlies, Gemma Grainger has pushed Rowe further forward into a winger role, and sometimes into a central midfield role.
Rowe admitted she is happy to play anywhere that’s she’s told to play but would prefer to be further up the pitch in the future.
“You play in whatever position you’re suited to in the group to make it the strongest team. If that’s me playing left-back, if that’s me playing goalkeeper, you’re willing to do it all when you come to Wales.
“I am more of a forward playing player, I’ve played my whole career there, but I did have a stint at left-back for Reading. I’m happy to do a job wherever, but my preferred position and where I think I can express myself is playing higher up.”
Wales have been placed in Group A3 of the Nations League, alongside Germany, Denmark, and Iceland.
Grainger’s side kick off with games against the Nordic nations this week, but it’s the fixture against the two-time World Champions that will cause the most excitement amongst fans.
For Rowe, the excitement is ramped up even higher as the game against Germany will take place in her hometown of Swansea.
“I saw the media on it, and it was just instant excitement for me. It’s a stone’s throw away from my house in Swansea and I’ve lived there my whole life.
“I think we’ve played one game there before that I can remember about six or seven years ago, but it’s going to be a very special day for me playing there.”
Wales begin their Nations League campaign on Friday night as they travel to take on Iceland. Kick-off is at 19:00.
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