2024–25 Celtic Challenge
| 2024–25 Celtic Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Ireland Wales Scotland |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Champions | Wolfhounds (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Clovers |
| Matches played | 30 |
| Official website | |
| celticrugbycomp | |
The 2024–25 Celtic Challenge was the third season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament featured a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. Each team therefore played a ten match season, three more than the previous edition.
Teams and locations
The coaches for this season have been announced. Lindsey Smith was promoted to Head Coach of Glasgow Warriors, the only change from last season.[1]
| Team | Country | Coach / Director of Rugby |
Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brython Thunder | Wales | Ashley Beck[2] | Parc y Scarlets | Llanelli | 14,870 |
| Eirias Stadium | Colwyn Bay | 6,080 | |||
| Clovers | Ireland | Denis Fogarty[3] | Donnybrook Stadium | Dublin | 6,000 |
| Musgrave Park | Cork | 8,008 | |||
| Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland | Claire Cruikshank[4] | Edinburgh Rugby Stadium | Edinburgh | 7,800 |
| Glasgow Warriors | Scotland | Lindsey Smith[5] | Scotstoun Stadium | Glasgow | 9,708 |
| Gwalia Lightning | Wales | Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin[2] | Cardiff Arms Park | Cardiff | 12,125 |
| Wolfhounds | Ireland | Neil Alcorn[3] | Musgrave Park | Cork | 8,008 |
| Ravenhill Stadium | Belfast | 18,196 | |||
| Donnybrook Stadium | Dublin | 6,000 |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolfhounds (C) | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 462 | 125 | +337 | 74 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 44 | Champions |
| 2 | Clovers | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 415 | 146 | +269 | 69 | 23 | 8 | 0 | 42 | |
| 3 | Gwalia Lightning | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 241 | 252 | −11 | 36 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 31 | |
| 4 | Brython Thunder | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 154 | 402 | −248 | 26 | 66 | 4 | 1 | 17 | |
| 5 | Edinburgh Rugby | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 225 | 392 | −167 | 38 | 64 | 5 | 2 | 15 | |
| 6 | Glasgow Warriors | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 182 | 362 | −180 | 29 | 59 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Source: celticrugbycomp.com
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.
Regular season
The fixtures were announced on 20 November 2024.[6]
Round 1
| 20 December 2024 7.35pm |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 63–15 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Report |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Ruairidh Campbell |
| 21 December 2024 2.30pm |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 42–22 | Brython Thunder (1 BP) |
| Report |
| CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach |
| 22 December 2024 4pm |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 33–7 | Clovers |
| Report |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Paul Haycock |
Round 2
Round 3
| 4 January 2025 2pm |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 22–15 | Brython Thunder (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
Round 4
| 11 January 2025 12pm |
| Brython Thunder | 0–48 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Referee: Jack Davies |
| 12 January 2025 1pm |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 31–26 | Glasgow Warriors (2 BP) |
| Report |
| CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach |
Round 5
| 18 January 2025 1:30pm |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 57–5 | Brython Thunder |
| Report |
| UCD Bowl, Dublin Referee: Oisin Quinn |
| 26 January 2025 11:30am |
| (2 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 27–29 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh |
Round 6
| 1 February 2025 12pm |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 58–0 | Brython Thunder |
| Report |
| Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast Referee: Peter Martin |
| 1 February 2025 2pm |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 26–5 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Report |
| CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach Referee: David Sutherland |
Round 7
| 8 February 2025 12:30pm |
| (1 BP) Brython Thunder | 38–32 | Edinburgh Rugby (2 BP) |
| Report |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
| 9 February 2025 12:30pm |
| Wolfhounds | 21–15 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Paudie Sheehan |
| 9 February 2025 3:30pm |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 41–19 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Report |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Tomás O’Sullivan |
Round 2 (postponed fixture)
| 15 February 2025 2pm |
| (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 36–17 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Report |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Jonny Perriam |
Round 8
| 22 February 2025 11:30am |
| Brython Thunder | 7–94 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Referee: Jess Kavanagh |
| 22 February 2025 2pm |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 22–31 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Sam O’Neil |
Round 9
| 1 March 2025 12pm |
| Gwalia Lightning | 17–48 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Report |
| CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach Referee: Will Goodwin |
| 1 March 2025 1pm |
| Edinburgh Rugby | 18–60 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Report |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Daniel Evans |
Round 10
| 8 March 2025 12pm |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 33–55 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Report |
| CCB Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach Referee: Jess Kavanagh |
| 8 March 2025 12:15pm |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 102–0 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Report |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Paul O’Connor |
Notes
References
- ^ "The Celtic Challenge Sets the Stage with Six Full-Time Coaching Appointments - Celtic Challenge". 16 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Head coaches named for Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Irish Rugby | Celtic Challenge Kit Reveal and Coaching Teams Announced". Irish Rugby. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "Claire Cruikshank to lead Edinburgh Rugby Women's Team". Edinburgh Rugby. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- ^ "Smith named Head Coach for Glasgow Warriors - Celtic Challenge". 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Glasgow Warriors | Celtic Challenge Fixtures".