2025–26 Celtic Challenge
| 2025–26 Celtic Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Countries |  Ireland Wales Scotland |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Official website | |
| celticrugbycomp | |
The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge will be the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, however, the competition will include a single elimination play-off with semi-finals and a grand final to be held in Edinburgh.[1][2][3]
Wolfhounds enter the competition as two–time defending champions.
Teams and locations
There have been no team changes from the 2024–25 season.
| Team | Country | Coach / Director of Rugby |
Affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brython Thunder | Wales
|
Ashley Beck | Scarlets, Ospreys |
| Clovers | Ireland
|
Denis Fogarty | Munster, Connacht |
| Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland
|
Claire Cruikshank | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
|
Lindsey Smith | Glasgow Warriors |
| Gwalia Lightning | Wales
|
Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin | Cardiff. Dragons RFC |
| Wolfhounds | Ireland
|
Neill Alcorn | Leinster, Ulster |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolfhounds (Q)
|
6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 273 | 60 | +213 | 45 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 30 | Play-offs |
| 2 | Clovers (Q)
|
7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 200 | 155 | +45 | 32 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 28 | |
| 3 | Gwalia Lightning
|
7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 198 | 138 | +60 | 31 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 23 | |
| 4 | Glasgow Warriors
|
6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 166 | 226 | −60 | 23 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 11 | |
| 5 | Brython Thunder
|
7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 95 | 208 | −113 | 15 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 10 | |
| 6 | Edinburgh Rugby
|
7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 95 | 230 | −135 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
First match(es) will be played: 20 December 2025. Source: Celtic Challenge[4]
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a draw. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a draw. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.
Match grid
The following are the fixtures and results for the 2025–26 Celtic Challenge regular season:
| Home \ Away | BRY | CLO | EDI | GLA | GWA | WOL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Brython Thunder | — | 12-15 | 33-14 | 17-36 | 8 Mar | 21 Feb |
|
|
Clovers | 29-12 | — | 21 Feb | 57-31 | 35-31 | 7-24 |
|
|
Edinburgh Rugby | 7-14 | 28 Feb | — | 31-25 | 7-43 | 12-50 |
|
|
Glasgow Warriors | 27 Feb | 31-38 | 7 Mar | — | 19-31 | 15 Feb |
|
|
Gwalia Lightning | 38-7 | 14-19 | 31-17 | 21 Feb | — | 28 Feb |
|
|
Wolfhounds | 69-0 | 8 Mar | 34-7 | 52-26 | 44-10 | — |
Colours: Green: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win; Blue: upcoming matches
Regular season
The fixtures were announced in October 2025.[5] The first round of fixtures will take place on 20 December 2025.[1] All times shown are local times.
Round 1
| 20 December 2025 11:30 |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 35 – 31 | Gwalia Lightning (2 BP) |
| Try: Sadhbh McGrath (2) Niamh Murphy Jemima Adams Verling Aoibheann McGrath Con: Caitríona Finn (5) Cards: Caoimhe Murphy  79' | Report | Try: Evie Hill Courtney Greenway Maisie Davies (2) Tilly Vucaj Con: Carys Hughes (3) |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Dermot Blake |
| 20 December 2025 12:30 |
| Brython Thunder | 17 – 36 | Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Ellie Tromans Hanna Marshall Jess Rogers Con: Marshall | Report | Try: Sky Phimister (2) Hannah Smyth (2) Poppy Mellanby Holland Bogan Con: Rianna Darroch (3) |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
| 20 December 2025 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 34 – 7 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Try: Sophie Barrett (2) India Daley Maggie Boylan Eve Higgins Linda Djougang Con: Dannah O’Brien (2) | Report | Try: Cat Moody Con: Lucy MacRae Cards: Scarlett Haddow 59' |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Padraic Reidy |
Round 2
| 27 December 2025 12:00 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 31 - 25 | Glasgow Warriors (2 BP) |
| Try: Aila Ronald Molly Poolman Hannah Walker Cieron Bell Nicole Marlow Con: Hannah Ramsay (3) | Report | Try: Beth Blacklock Hannah Smyth Sky Phimister Holland Bogan (2) |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
| 27 December 2025 14:00 |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 38 – 7 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Webster (2) Pyrs Fajeyisan Reardon King Con: Hughes (4/6) | Report | Try: Healen Con: Williams |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Attendance: 650 Referee: Amber Stamp |
| 3 January 2026 15:00 |
| Clovers | 7 - 24 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Try: Jemima Adams Verling 40+2' c Con: Caitríona Finn 40+3' | Report | Try: Aoife Dalton 6' c Robyn O’Connor 37' m Maggie Boylan 64' m Eve Higgins 69' c Con: Dannah O'Brien (2) 7', 70' |
| Creggs RFC Referee: Shane Tuohy |
Round 3
| 10 January 2025 12:30 |
| Glasgow Warriors | 19 – 31 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Try: Sky Phimister 13' m Freya Walker 45' c Gemma Bell 55' c Con: Kate Ainsworth (2) 46', 56' | Report | Try: Tilly Vucaj 29' c Molly Reardon 51' m Courtney Greenway (3) 58' c, 68' m, 76' c Con: Carys Hughes 30', 59', 77' |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow |
| 10 January 2026 15:00 |
| Edinburgh Rugby | 12 – 50 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Try: Cieron Bell Talei Tawake Con: Nicole Marlow | Report | Try: Erin King India Daley Aoibheann Reilly Aoife Dalton Niamh Marley Maggie Boylan Aoife Corcoran Stacey Flood Con: Dannah O’Brien (4) Abby Moyles |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
| 11 January 2026 12:00 |
| (1 BP) Brython Thunder | 12 – 15 | Clovers |
| Try: Amy Williams Gwen Crabb Con: Hanna Marshall | Report | Try: Emily Foley Lucia Linn Con: Caitríona Finn Pen: Caitríona Finn |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
Round 4
| 17 January 2026 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 31 - 17 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Try: Greenway Lewis Pyrs Reardon Hawkins Con: Hughes (2) Hesketh | Report | Try: Bell Ronald Ramsay Con: MacRae |
| CSE, Ystrad Mynach |
| 18 January 2026 12:00 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 69 - 0 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Niamh Marley penalty try Vicky Elmes Kinlan (2) Robyn O’Connor (2) Linda Djougang Stacey Flood Maebh Clenaghan Jade Gaffney Naoise Smyth Con: Dannah O’Brien (3) Flood (2) | Cards: Lisa Neumann |
| Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast Referee: Rob McGreer (Ireland) |
| 18 January 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 57 - 31 | Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Alana McInerney (2) Caitríona Finn Anna McGann Sadhbh McGrath Niamh Murphy Katie Whelan Aoibheann McGrath Aoife Corey Con: Caitríona Finn (6) | Report | Try: Briar McNamara Nicole Flynn (2) Emily Coubrough Holland Bogan Con: Ceitidh Ainsworth (3) Cards: Nicole Flynn |
| Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast |
Round 5
| 24 January 2026 13:00 |
| Edinburgh Rugby | 7 - 43 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Try: penalty try | Report | Try: Maisie Davies (2) Lily Terry (2) Bryonie King Sian Jones Catherine Richards Con: Carys Hughes (4/7) Cards: Anwen Owen 31' |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
| 25 January 2026 12:00 |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 29-12 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Siobhán McCarthy Annakate Cournane Emily Lane Niamh Murphy Aoife Corey Con: Caitríona Finn 2 | Report | Try: Jess Rogers Rhian Bowden Con: Ffion Williams Cards: Hannah Bluck 15' |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Paudie Sheehan (IRFU) |
| 25 January 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 52-26 | Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Caoimhe Molloy (2) Erin King Katie Corrigan Linda Djougang Fiona Tuite Maeve Óg O’Leary Vicky Elmes Kinlan Con: Abby Moyles (6/8) Cards: Fiona Tuite 61' | Report | Try: Holland Bogan Rianna Darroch Briar McNamara Sky Phimister Con: Millie Warren (3/4) |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Kevin Coffey (IRFU) |
Round 6
| 31 January 2026 14:00 |
| (2 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 31 – 38 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Try: Emily Coubrough Holland Bogan Millie Warren Penalty try Briar McNamara Con: Millie Warren Briar McNamara | Report | Try: Faith Oviawe Aoibheann McGrath (2) Katie Whelan Anna McGann Síofra Hession Con: Caitríona Finn (3) Síofra Hession Cards: Chisom Ugwueru 68'Faith Oviawe 71' |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Ciaran Stark (SRU) |
| 31 January 2026 15:00 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 7 – 14 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Hannah Walker Con: Hannah Walker Cards: Charlotte Russell | Report | Try: Stella Orrin Seren Singleton Con: Ffion Williams (2) |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
| 1 February 2026 12:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 44 – 10 | Gwalia Lightning |
| Try: Maggie Boylan Eve Higgins Vicky Elmes Kinlan India Daley Fiona Tuite Aoibheann Reilly Maebh Clenaghan (2) Con: Dannah O’Brien Abby Moyles Cards: Fiona Tuite | Report | Try: Chloe Thomas-Bradley Con: Jodi Palmer Pen: Carys Hughes |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Tomás O’Sullivan (Ireland) |
Round 7
| 14 February 2026 12:30 |
| (1 BP) Brython Thunder | 33 - 14 | Edinburgh |
| Try: Rhian Bowden Seren Lockwood (2) penalty try Seren Singleton Con: Ffion Williams 3 | [ Report] | Try: Nicole Marlow Adelle Ferrie Con: Hannah Ramsay MacRae Cards: Ramsey |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
| 14 February 2026 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 14 - 19 | Clovers |
| Try: Courtney Greenway Evie Hill Con: Carys Hughes 2 | Report | Try: Aoife Corey Alana McInerney Niamh Murphy Con: Siofra Hession 2 |
| CSE, Ystrad Mynach |
| 15 February 2026 14:00 |
| Glasgow Warriors | 26 - 42 | Wolfhounds |
| Try: Briar McNamara Aicha Sutcliffe Emily Coubrough Millie Warren Con: Millie Warren 3 | Try: Katie Corrigan Erin King (2) Naoise Smyth Fiona Tuite Aoibheann Reilly Con: Abby Myles 6 Cards: India Daley |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Murray Oliver |
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
Play-offs
For the first time, the Celtic Challenge will have play-offs to crown a champion, with the top four teams in the regular season advancing to semi-finals, followed by a grand final.
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 20/21/22 March 2026 – TBC | ||||||
| First in standings | ||||||
| 27/28/29 March 2026 – Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh[6] | ||||||
| Fourth in standings | ||||||
| Winner SF1 | ||||||
| 20/21/22 March 2026 – TBC | ||||||
| Winner SF2 | ||||||
| Second in standings | ||||||
| Third in standings | ||||||
Semi-finals
| 20/21/22 March 2026 |
| 1st in regular season | v | 4th in regular season |
| 20/21/22 March 2026 |
| 2nd in regular season | v | 3rd in regular season |
Final
Discipline
Red cards
| Player/Coach | Match[a] | Law breached | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elan Jones
|
Wolfhounds vs. Brython Thunder (18 January 2026) |
9.13 – tackle above the line of the shoulder (Red card) |
3 matches | [7] |
Notes
- ^ The club of the cited player or coach is listed in bold italics
References
- ^ a b "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby as competition revamped". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Edinburgh to stage inaugural Celtic Challenge final at Hive Stadium". BBC Sport. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Table". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ "Celtic Challenge Unveils Fixtures for the 2025/26 Season". Celtic Challenge. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ "Edinburgh to stage inaugural Celtic Challenge final at Hive Stadium". BBC Sport. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ^ "Elan Jones – Disciplinary Decision". Celtic Challenge. 23 January 2026. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
| 2025–26 teams | |
|---|---|
| Seasons | |
| Former teams |
|