FROM Bradley Raiders all the way through to selection for a Welsh age group side, it’s been an amazing journey for Ralf Roberts.

He has been selected as part of Paul Berry’s Wales U16s 24-man squad to play in this summers Four Nations Championship.

Roberts can look forward to competitive test matches against Ireland, Scotland and England.

Wales kicked off the tournament with their eight-try victory against Ireland at the Dublin Exiles ground.

It has been some journey for the talented youngster, who began playing rugby league at the tender age of four years old.

This was with the now defunct Bradley Raiders, a Wrexham-based rugby league outfit that was coached by the late Jacqui Walker.

Roberts quickly made his mark in the sport and he won his first trophy for ‘best mini player’ at a festival in Colwyn Bay in 2014.

When Wrexham Bradley Raiders folded, Roberts transferred over the border to Widnes and started playing for the West Bank Bears Newbies.

He was able to enjoy five seasons there before the team folded.

In 2019, Roberts join Moorfield RLFC, where he stayed for one season before joining Halton Farnworth Hornets at U12s level just as Covid-19 kicked in!

He has remained at Wilmere Lane where he is currently part of the U16s squad.

The 2023 season was a hugely successful one for Roberts as it saw him bring home players’ player and player of the year trophies.

Last year, he was picked up by the Warrington Wolves and he began their prospects programme before signing a scholarship in January of this year.

Roberts currently trains twice a week with the Hornets and plays on a Sunday.

He also trains twice weekly with the Warrington Wolves.

All of the hours and years spent travelling over the border and dedication to the sport paid off earlier this year when Roberts was successful following a final trial with Wales.

The selection process proved to be a very tough one with plenty of high-quality players to choose from.

Wales Rugby League have welcomed Adam Rowland to its board of directors, as a non-executive director with responsibility for governance and strategy.

“I am really looking forward to supporting the team develop a sustainable strategy that allows rugby league to be a sport for everyone throughout our communities,” he said.

“Great corporate governance is the foundation of any sustainable strategy and I’m looking forward to building on what’s already in place whilst working with various stakeholders across the governing body.

“The best businesses I’ve worked in and for have a solid foundation with a systemic way of working to ensure those businesses have run responsibly. I’ve watched from afar the appointments made so far and certainly can see Wales Rugby League mean business and I want to be a part of that change.”