Celtic Challenge to return for third season

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.