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Celtic Challenge to return for third season
By Martyn Thomas
The third season of the Celtic Challenge will get underway next month with the teams competing in a new home-and-away league format.
In the latest development for the women’s cross-border competition, which will run between December 2024 and March 2025, the six teams will each play 10 matches.
The team that finishes the season top of the table will be crowned champions.
Last year’s winners Wolfhounds will return for a second season alongside fellow Irish side Clovers. Scotland will again be represented by Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors and Wales by Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning.
According to organisers, those teams will be given a “greater platform” on which to perform as a result of enhanced operating standards.
“This strategic enhancement underscores the competition's commitment to elevating the profile of women’s rugby in the Celtic nations, building a vibrant platform for players, and enriching the supporter experience,” a statement said.
Wolfhounds lifted the 2023-24 Celtic Challenge title unbeaten, winning all five of their regular season matches before drawing with Edinburgh and beating Clovers in the play-offs.
Designed to provide a pathway between club competition and international selection in Ireland, Scotland and Wales the Celtic Challenge was first played as a three-team tournament at the start of 2023.
Ireland’s Combined Provinces won that inaugural tournament, winning all four of their matches against The Thistles and the Welsh Development XV.
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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