Celtic Challenge returns

The Celtic Challenge has returned, with the same teams as last year - Edinburgh and Glasgow from Scotland, Gwalia and Brython from Wales, and Wolfhounds and Clovers from Ireland (see squads below). Again the teams will play each other home and away with the tournament starting with games between the two teams from each nation.

The League is designed to develop and inspire World Class performance through elite competition. It is the highest form of domestic rugby across the 3 nations and acts as a pathway for current and future International Talent.

This year all games are being shown on the BBC and Rugby Pass TV

Edinburgh Warriors 63-15 Glasgow Warriors

Report: Scotland Rugby News

Edinburgh Rugby ran in 10 tries to win the derby over Glasgow Warriors 63-15 with a bonus point at Hive Stadium on Friday night to open their 2024/25 Celtic Challenge campaign with a bang.

The two Scottish sides will battle it out with Welsh and Irish sides over the next three months in the six-team tournament and, after finishing second last year, the capital side played with pace and confidence here after a slow start.

The Warriors were winless last season and showed glimpses of promise here, but they have plenty of ‘work ons’ for their return to action in early January.

Glasgow showed they had headed east to get down to business when they scored the opening try after just three minutes.

A cross field kick from scrum-half Mairi McDonald bounced up nicely for winger Sky Phimister and she did the rest to score a try converted by centre Lisa Martin.

Their strong start continued and, in the 13th minute, former Scotland captain Martin kicked a penalty to make it 10-0.

Edinburgh needed something to spark them into life and it came in the 15thminute when vice-captain Hannah Walker came off her wing and burst through the defence to score. Centre Lucy MacRae converted.

Ten minutes later, with Edinburgh now on the front foot, their attack looked like it had broken down. However, stand-off Hannah Ramsay looped a pass left and Walker did the rest. MacRae converted and the hosts were ahead.

In the 30th minute their third try came, a strong line-out drive seeing Walker’s fellow vice-captain Aila Ronald, the hooker, who dotted down.

Edinburgh were flying now and the bonus point fourth try came six minutes before the interval when Scotland cap Lucia Scott went over followed, in the 36th minute, by winger Cieron Bell’s score which was converted by MacRae to make it 31-10.

A MacRae penalty then made it 34-10 at the interval.

The home team assault on the Glasgow try line resumed just after the break and, in the 46th minute, another sweeping break from Walker set up Bell for her second try.

Glasgow got their second try through replacement Erinn Foley in the 52nd minute to leave things at 39-15.

Edinburgh added four more tries though, replacement Shona Campbell scoring in the 56th minute and then Walker, later named player of the match, finished off her hat-trick in the 67th minute.

The final two tries, both converted by MacRae, came from subs Talei Tawake and Faye Sutherland.

Gwalia Lightning 42-22 Brython Thunder

Report: WRU

A crowd of more than 500 turned up for a traditional and typically physical and bruising Welsh derby in the new home and away expanded Celtic Challenge.

Brython will host the return game against Gwalia in the second game of Welsh derbies to open the season at Parc y Scarlets next Saturday.

Fly-half Carys Hughes announced her return to Celtic Challenge with a personal haul of 17 points, including a try and six conversions. Gwalia crossed for six tries and Brython four tries.

The Gwalia pack and set-piece proved to much for Brython with Wales duo – scrum half Sian Jones and Number 8 Gwennan Hopkins – the pick of an impressive display by the home side.

There were Wales 12 Test stars selected in the starting line-up for both sides, with Gwalia the  more experienced side with eight Wales internationals, while Brython had four Wales stars in their starting line-up.

During a tense and physical opening both teams when scrum half Sian Jones launched an interception break to remind everyone why she was selected by Wales for the women’s Sin Nations and WXV campaigns.

But it was Brython who opened the scoring when hooker Chloe Gant crossed for a try from short-range. Ellie Tromans missed the conversion

Gwalia replied when openside flanker Paige Jones crashed over after a slick lineout to level the scored. Hughes slotted over the conversion to give Gwalia a 7-5 lead.

Gwennan Hopkins created another break and hooker Molly Reardon took advantage to launch herself at the Thunder defence, but the visitors defence held firm and survived an intense period of pressure.

The Lightning stretched their lead when Wales wing Catherine Richards latched on a stray Thunder pass and sped away and ran in from 40m for a well taken interception try to stretch the home side’s lead.

Hughes added the conversion to make it 14-5 before Thunder went down to 14 players when prop Katie Carr was shown a yellow card and Lightning tool full advantage and prop Maisie Davies crossed for the home side’s third try.

Hughes added her third conversion to stretch her side’s lead to 21-5 at half-time. After the break, the fly half scored her side’s fourth try and converted her own try to stretch Gwalia’s lead to 23 points.

Backrow Lily Terry crossed for a fifth try from short-range and Hughes added another conversion to make it 35-5 before Thunder replied with a try by replacement Evie Hill for the visitors second try of the afternoon.

With Gwalia down to 14 players due to a yellow card before captain Natalia John and wing Eleanor Hing crashed over for Brython’s third try to make the score 35-17.

Gwalia signed off with a sixth try by replacement Caitlin Lewis and fly-half Hughes added her sixth conversion.

Davies, who switched to the back row towards the end of the game, produced an outrageous show and go as Gwalia sealed an impressive victory.

Wolfhounds 33-7 Clovers

Report: IRU

Stacey Flood scored a try and set up two others as the Wolfhounds began their Celtic Challenge title defence with a 33-7 bonus point win over the Clovers at Energia Park.

Dual international Flood starred in the reigning champions’ back-line, topping off her performance with a closing 72nd-minute try. Ireland prop Linda Djougang’s barnstorming first-half breakaway effort led her to the player-of-the-match honour.

In the first of two festive derbies, with the teams set to meet again at the UCD Bowl next Saturday (kick-off 12pm – tickets are available here), the Clovers were only seven points behind at half-time.

However, Neill Alcorn’s Wolfhounds, captained by Claire Boles from the back row, pulled clear to kick off the expanded 10-round competition in impressive fashion.

Coached by Denis Fogarty, the Clovers had the wind advantage but trailed 14-0 inside as many minutes. Ireland Sevens youngster Amy Larn surged over from the left wing, and Djougang’s subsequent score was also converted by Dannah O’Brien.

Marshalled by Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, the Clovers’ young pack earned a penalty try from a 20th-minute maul which also landed Wolfhounds number 8 Erin King in the sin bin.

Despite the likes of Edel McMahon and Amee-Leigh Costigan (formerly Murphy Crowe) coming off the Clovers’ bench, the Wolfhounds enjoyed a winning start thanks to further tries from Eve Higgins (43 minutes), replacement hooker Kelly Burke (67), and Flood.

Two of the Wolfhounds’ Paris Olympians combined for a terrific fourth-minute try, as classy full-back Flood broke two tackles and neatly fed Larn who darted home from 45 metres out. The Athy flyer stayed clear of Méabh Deely and cut inside Nicole Fowley to score.

Dannah O’Brien’s first conversion was quickly followed by positive Clovers play, their industrious forwards getting them within scoring range. They went desperately close when Ivana Kiripati was held up by Niamh O’Dowd and Higgins just to the right of the posts.

The Clovers had most of the territory during some scrappy phases, but were rocked by a stunning try from Djougang. She emerged with possession some 60 metres out, and handed off Enya Breen before showing impressive pace to make it over near the right corner.

Neither the chasing Breen or Chisom Ugwueru could reel in the experienced Ireland front rower, and O’Brien followed up with a fine conversion.

The Clovers did well to hit back swiftly, a powerful lineout drive forcing their penalty try with King seeing yellow for infringing close to the try-line. Nonetheless, Denis Fogarty’s charges could not make further inroads during King’s absence.

Out-half Fowley went close to connecting with Ugwueru via a cross-field kick, the ball just evading the winger’s grasp. Their combativeness around the breakdown was also forcing handling errors from the title holders.

On the back of a Boles turnover, strong running from Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, and King saw the Wolfhounds build some promising phases, getting back past halfway. Nonetheless, the Clovers made sure they did not reach their 22.

This fiercely-contested derby continued to open up approaching the interval, with loosehead O’Dowd adding another purposeful break from the Wolfhounds’ front row trio. Balbriggan teenager Alma Atagamen also gave a glimpse of her power with a rampaging late carry.

Frustratingly for the Clovers, they conceded early in the second half. A Fowley chip kick down the left failed to work out, with Flood gathering it on the bounce. She evaded Jemima Adams Verling and timed her inside pass perfectly to send Higgins over from 35 metres out.

O’Brien maintained her 100% record from the tee to make it 21-7, and it took some muscular maul defence from the Clovers, and Ruth Campbell in particular, to avoid leaking a subsequent score.

Reinforcements were sent for by the Clovers management, including McMahon, who captained Ireland to that famous WXV1 win over New Zealand. Notably, the Wolfhounds had some lineout issues to iron out, with the Clovers able to regularly apply pressure in the air.

Ireland Sevens captain Costigan made an immediate impact off the Clovers bench, gobbling up the metres when running back a kick. Nic a Bháird broke a couple of tackles, and replacement Faith Oviawe also carried well, but they could not get within striking distance.

In response, King, the World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, surged out of contact to raid downfield. Aoife Dalton was up in support, and the Wolfhounds made the most of their next maul opportunity when Mullingar native Burke rumbled over on her Celtic Challenge debut.

O’Brien was pinpoint accurate with the extras again, and the Wolfhounds kept their foot on the gas. Second row Atagamen made an incision inside the opposition 22, and an overlap on the left saw the newly-introduced Megan Burns release Flood for the whitewash.

The Clovers had enough time to claw back a late try, with their reliable lineout providing the launchpad. A maul turnover added to their frustration though, along with a tackle off the ball from Kiripati, but both sides left with plenty to build on heading into round 2.

TIME LINE: 4 minutes – Wolfhounds try: Amy Larn – 5-0; conversion: Dannah O’Brien – 7-0; 14 mins – Wolfhounds try: Linda Djougang – 12-0; conversion: Dannah O’Brien – 14-0; 20 mins – Clovers try: Penalty try & conversion – 14-7; Wolfhounds yellow card: Erin King; Half-time – Wolfhounds 14 Clovers 7; 43 mins – Wolfhounds try: Eve Higgins – 19-7; conversion: Dannah O’Brien – 21-7; 67 mins – Wolfhounds try: Kelly Burke – 26-7; conversion: Dannah O’Brien – 28-7; 72 mins – Wolfhounds try: Stacey Flood – 33-7; conversion: missed by Dannah O’Brien – 33-7; Full-time – Wolfhounds 33 Clovers 7

Squads:

(2023/24 Celtic Challenge appearances)

Brython Thunder: Amy Williams (6); Anna Stowell (0); Beth Adkins (0); Cadi-Lois Davies (7); Chloe Gant (0); Chloe Thomas Bradley (6); Danai Mugabe (4); Elan Jones (0); Eleanor Hing (7); Ellie Tromans (6); Evie Gill (0); Ffion Davies (0); Gabby Healan (0); Hanna Marshall (0); Hannah Bluck (1); Hannah Lane (0); Jess Rogers (0); Katie Carr (7); Kira Philpott (0); Lowri Williams (4); Lucy Isaac (4); Meg Lewis (0); Meg Webb (7); Natalia John (7); Niamh Terry (6); Poppy Hughes (0); Rhiannon Griffin (0); Robyn Davies (0); Savannah Picton-Powell (3); Seren Singleton (7)

Clovers: Alana McInerney (7); Aoibhe O’Flynn (0); Aoife Corey (6); Beth Buttimer (7); Brianna Heylmann (7); Caitriona Finn (0); Chisom Ugwueru (2); Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird (0); Eabha Nic Dhonnacha (0); Ella Burns (0); Emily Gavin (0); Enya Breen (0); Faith Ovaiwe (6); Grace Brown Moran (0); Grainne Burke (4); Grainne Moran (0); Jane Clohessy (5); Jane Neill (1); Kate Flannery (7); Lucia Linn (0); Meabh Deely (6); Muirne Wall (4); Nicole Fowley (2); Ruth Campbell (6); Sadhbh McGrath (4) ; Saoirse Crowe (0); Shirley Bailey (0); Siobhan McCarthy (0)

Edinburgh Rugby: Adelle Ferrie (6); Aila Ronald* (5); Alex Stewart* (7); Alison Wilson (1); Ami Conchie (0); April McKenzie (0) ; Caroline Bullock (0); Charlotte Russell (0); Chloe Brown (7); Dawn Lawrie (0); Emily Love (0); Faye Sutherland (0); Georgia Young (0); Giselle Chicot (6); Hannah McMahon (0); Hannah Ramsay* (4); Hannah Walker* (5); Holly McIntyre* (0); Karis Craig (5); Lisa Brown* (0); Lucy MacRae* (7); Megan Riach (0); Merryn Gunderson* (7); Millie Capaldi (0); Molly Poolman* (7); Natasha Logan* (7); Pip Benson (0); Rhea Clarke* (7); Samanther Taganekurukuru (2); Talei Tawake (0)

Glasgow Warriors: Abi Evans (0); Aicha Sutcliffe (1); Ailie Tucker (7); Aisha Zameer (0); Alex Ward (0); Beth Tobin (0); Briar McNamara (7); Carla McDonald (7); Ceitidh Ainsworth* (7); Eilidh MacGilvray (0); Emily Coubrough* (0); Erika Gladwin (0); Erinn Foley* (0); Freya Walker (7); Holland Bogan (7); Kate Yeomans (0); Katie Lindsay (7); Lisa Martin (0); Louise Downie (0); Maia MacDonald (0); Mary Nelson (0); Megan Hyland* (4); Millie Warren (0); Poppy Clarkson (0); Poppy Fletcher* (7); Poppy Mellanby* (0); Rebekah Douglas* (1); Roma Fraser (5); Sarah Murdoch (0); Sky Phimister* (5)

Gwalia Lightning: Alaw Pyrs (4); Bryonie King (7); Caitlin Lewis (6); Cana Williams (0); Carys Hughes (2); Carys Williams-Morris (0); Catherine Richards (2); Catrin Stewart (0); Courtney Greenway (0); Dali Hopkins (0); Danyelle Dinapoli (5); Erin Jones (5); Gwennan Hopkins (6); Jenna De Vera (6); Jenni Scoble (7); Katherine Baverstock (0); Katie Bevans (0); Kelsie Webster (6); Kerin Lake (0); Lily Terry (0); Lowri Davies (0); Maisie Davies (7); Mollie Mae Crabb (2); Molly Anderson-Thomas (3); Molly Reardon (7); Molly Wakely (0); Paige Jones (2); Rhodd Parry (5); Sian Jones (7); Sydney Mead (3)

Wolfhounds: Alma Atagamen (0); Anna Doyle (0); Aoife Dalton (5); Aoife Wafer (2); Brittany Hogan (5); Caoimhe Molloy (0); Cara Martin (0); Christy Haney (5); Ciara Short (0); Claire Boles (5); Cliondhna Ni Chonchobhair (0); Dannah O’Brien (3); Ella Roberts (0); Ellie O’Sullivan Sexton (0); Erin McConnell (3); Fiona Tuite (4); Jade Gaffney (5); Katie Hefferman (3); Katie Whelan (6); Leah Tarpey (6); Linda Djougang (5); Maebh Clenaghan (7); Molly Boyne (5); Niamh O’Dowd (7); Poppy Garvey (0); Sarah Delaney (5); Tricia Boyle (0)

Fixtures