Celtic Challenge announces 2026/27 fixtures as competition continues to grow

Fixtures for the 2026/27 Celtic Challenge season have been announced, with the competition set to return for its fifth year in December.

The new season will begin on Saturday 5 December and comprise 10 rounds, culminating on Saturday 27 February. The final will take place on the weekend of 27 March 2027.

For the first time, the highest-seeded team will host the final. Previous editions have seen the showpiece played at a neutral venue, but the highest seed of the two semi-final winners will now have home advantage.

The new campaign is set to be the highest-quality season yet, with more internationals from Ireland, Scotland and Wales involved in the cross-border competition than ever before.

The Celtic Challenge is increasingly proving to be a pathway to Test rugby, with a number of players from Clovers and Wolfhounds breaking into the Ireland squad. When Scott Bemand announced his squad for the WXV Global Series, seven players from the two teams were uncapped. Since then, five have made their Ireland debuts against the USA Women’s Eagles and Japan.

Beth Buttimer, Jemima Adams-Verling, Kate Jordan, Sophie Barrett and Alana McInerney have all earned their first Ireland caps this autumn.

The Scottish sides have also strengthened their squads with the recruitment of senior internationals Emma Orr, Anne Young, Lucia Scott, Evie Wills and Chloe Rollie by Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.

In Wales, Sean Lynn has capped Brython Thunder trio Amy Williams, Shanelle Williams and Elan Jones during the WXV Global Series, while Gwalia Lightning’s Freya Bell and Bryonie King have continued to impress at Test level.

Last season, Wolfhounds claimed their third consecutive title with a 50-29 victory over Irish rivals Clovers at Edinburgh’s Hive Stadium.

That result extended Ireland’s dominance of the Celtic Challenge, with Irish teams having won all four editions of the competition.

A Combined Provinces XV won the inaugural title in 2023, before Wolfhounds secured three consecutive championships.

2026/27 Celtic Challenge | Round 1

• Saturday 5 December, Clovers v Edinburgh Rugby, 12:00 KO, Dexcom Stadium
• Saturday 5 December, Gwalia Lightning v Glasgow Warriors, 12:00 KO, CCB Centre
• Saturday 5 December, Wolfhounds v Brython Thunder, 13:00 KO, Affidea Stadium