2024–25 Celtic Challenge
Women's rugby union competition in Europe
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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.
| 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 | |
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 |