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2025–26 Munster Rugby season

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The 2025–26 season is Munster Rugby's fifth in the United Rugby Championship, and their 138th season of representative rugby since their foundation. Along with competing in the URC and its Irish Shield competition, the club also participated in the 2025–26 European Rugby Champions Cup, their 32nd season of European and professional competition, and will participate in the knockout stages of the 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup.

Head coachClayton McMillan
Chief executiveIan Flanagan[1]
United Rugby ChampionshipQuarter-final
5th (regular season)
Champions CupEliminated at group stage
Quick facts Head coach, Chief executive ...
Munster Rugby
2025–26 season
Head coachClayton McMillan
Chief executiveIan Flanagan[1]
United Rugby ChampionshipQuarter-final
5th (regular season)
Champions CupEliminated at group stage
Challenge CupRound of 16
URC Irish Shield2nd
Highest home attendance26,006 (URC)
36,208 (ERCC)
Lowest home attendance8,422
Average home attendance16,791
Home colours
Away colours
Third colours
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
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For the first time, Munster will bring a competitive in-season fixture to the 45,000 capacity Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Cork, with one of the two European Rugby Champions Cup home matches designated for the venue. Munster had previously played a number of high-profile 'friendly fixtures' at the venue.[2] Munster will become the third Irish province to bring a major competitive home fixture to a larger GAA ground, Munster having played away fixtures against both Leinster at Croke Park, and Connacht at MacHale Park, in the previous season.

Munster appointed a new head coach for the 2025–26 season, Clayton McMillan.[3] McMillan was previously head coach of Super Rugby side, The Chiefs.

Munster men

Transfers

Main article: Munster Rugby

Full squad

More information Munster Rugby senior squad ...
Munster Rugby senior squad

Prop

Hooker

Lock

Back Row

Scrum-Half

Fly-Half

Centre

Wing

Fullback

(c) denotes the team captain.
Players and their allocated positions from the Munster Rugby website.[20]
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Pre-season and friendlies

Munster's men will begin their season with two pre-season friendlies against English opposition. Both ties will be reversals of upcoming European Rugby Champions Cup pool matches.[21]

5 September 2025 Gloucester England 14–12 Ireland Munster Kingsholm Stadium  
19:30 Report
12 September 2025 MunsterIreland 28–28 England Bath Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:00 Report

Munster will also play a friendly match against Argentina XV during the 2025 end-of-year rugby union internationals at Thomond Park.[22]

1 November 2025 MunsterIreland v Argentina Argentina XV Thomond Park  
17:00

United Rugby Championship

Matches

27 September 2025 Scarlets Wales 21–34 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli  
17:30 Try: Murray 48' c
Mee 64' c
Plumtree 75' c
Con: Costelow (2) 49', 65'
Hawkins 76'
 Report Try: Casey 10' c
Haley 42' c
D. Kelly 59' c
Ahern 69' c
Con: Hanrahan 12'
Crowley (3) 43', 60', 70'
Pen: Hanrahan (2) 23', 29'
 Attendance: 9,078
Referee: Sam Grove-White
4 October 2025 Munster Ireland 23–20 Wales Cardiff (2 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Quinn 29' m
Coombes 52' c
Barron 61' m
Con: Crowley 53'
Pen: Crowley 67'
Drop: Crowley 77'
 Report Try: J. Adams 15' m
Bowen (3) 44', 57', 80+2'
 Attendance: 12,066
10 October 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 20–19 Scotland Edinburgh (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:45 Try: A. Smith 2' m
Milne (2) 33' m, 58' m
F. Wycherley 72' m
 report Try: Ashman 7' m
Vellacott 15' c
Graham 48' c
Con: Healy (2) 16', 49'
Cards: Young Yellow card 28'
Rae Yellow card 30'
Douglas Yellow card 53'
Graham Yellow card 68'		 Attendance: 8,800
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
18 October 2025 Leinster 14–31 Munster (1 BP) Croke Park, Dublin  
17:15 Try: Kelleher 7' c
Penny 79' c
Con: Prendergast (2) 8', 80+1'
Cards: Frawley Yellow card 77'		 Report
MOTM: Jack Crowley		 Try: Gleeson 17' c
Tom Farrell 23' c
Coughlan 37' c
Penalty try 76'
Con: Crowley (3) 18', 24', 38'
Pen: Crowley 49'
Cards: Coombes Yellow card 79'		 Attendance: 51,859
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
25 October 2025 Munster Ireland 17–15 Ireland Connacht (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: O'Donoghue (2) 15' m, 67' m
Kilgallen 33' c
Con: JJ Hanrahan 33'
 Report Try: Ralston (2) 20' m, 28' m
Boyle 42' m
 Attendance: 16,512[23]
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
29 November 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 21–27 South Africa Stormers Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Beirne 8' c
Hodnett 20' c
Crowley 27' c
Con: Crowley (3/3) 8', 20', 28'
Cards: Coombes Yellow card 58'		 Report Try: A. Smith 58' c
Maart 68' c
Nel 72' c
Con: Matthee (3/3) 59', 69', 72'
Pen: Matthee (2) 6', 12'
Cards: Evans Yellow card 3'
Theunissen Yellow card 20'		 Attendance: 14,421
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
20 December 2025 Ospreys Wales 10–26 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Brewery Field, Bridgend  
17:30 Try: Morris 54' c
Con: Edwards 55'
Pen: Edwards 11'
Cards: Nagy Yellow card 15'		 Report Try: Daly 17' m
Baron 36' c
Crowley 40+1' c
Haley 48' c
Con: Crowley (3/4) 37', 40+2', 49
Cards: O'Donoghue Yellow card 54'		 Attendance: 4,715
Referee: Sam Grove-White
27 December 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 8–13 Ireland Leinster Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: Kelly 70' m
Pen: Crowley 55'
 Report Try: Van der Flier 6' c
Con: Byrne 7'
Pen: Byrne (2) 53', 59'
 Attendance: 26,006
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
2 January 2026 Ulster Ireland 28–3 Ireland Munster Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast  
19:45 Try: Stewart 48' c
Flannery 55' m
B Ward 72' c
Con: Doak (2) 49', 72'
Pen: Doak (3) 5', 25', 43'
 Report Pen: Hanrahan 28'
 Attendance: 18,196
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
23 January 2026 Munster Ireland 22–20 Wales Dragons (1 BP) Musgrave Park, Cork  
19:45 Try: Gleeson 39' c
Coombes (2) 57' m, 65' c
Con: Butler (2/3) 40', 66'
Pen: Butler 75'
 Report Try: Coghlan 17' c
Richards 53' c
Con: O'Brien (2/2) 18', 54'
Pen: O'Brien (2) 11', 30'
Cards: Beddall Yellow card 19'		 Attendance: 8,422
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
30 January 2026 (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland 31–22 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow  
19:45 Try: Smith 7' c
Lancaster 8' c
Oguntibeju 33' c
McKay 40' c
Con: Lancaster (4/4) 8', 9', 34', 40+1'
Pen: Lancaster 74'
 Report Try: Coughlan 11' m
Kelly 51' m
Gleeson 61' m
Kilgallen 67' c
Con: Wood (1/2) 68'
Cards: Abrahams Yellow card 39'
O'Donoghue Yellow card 80+3'		 Attendance: 7,351
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
28 February 2026 Munster Ireland 21–7 Italy Zebre Parma Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Daly 7' c
Kendellen 65' c
Barron 71' c
Con: JJ Hanrahan (3/3) 8', 66', 72'
 Report Try: Stavile 32' c
Con: Da Re, 33'
Cards: Bertaccini Yellow card 3'		 Attendance: 12,558
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
21 March 2026 (1 BP) Sharks South Africa 45–0 Ireland Munster Kings Park Stadium, Durban  
15:00 Try: Buthelezi 7' c
Giliomee 28' m
Ganyane 51' c
v. Heerden 57' c
Malan 77' c
Mapimpi (2) 79' c, 80+1' m
Con: Hendrikse (3/4) 8', 51', 58'
J Smith (2/3) 78' , 80'
 Report Attendance: 14,539
28 March 2026 (1 BP) Bulls South Africa 34–31 Ireland Munster (2 BP) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
12:00 Try: Papier (2) 30' c, 47' c
Moodie 35' c
Jooste 58' c
Con: Pollard (4/4) 31', 36', 47', 59'
Pen: Pollard 61', 73'
Cards: Nortje Yellow card 33'		 Report Try: O'Brien 20' c
Ahern (2) 42' m, 52' c
O'Connor 67' c
E Edogbo 75' m
Con: Crowley (3/5) 21', 53', 68'
 Attendance: 9,561
Referee: Sam Grove-White
18 April 2026 Benetton Italy 15–45 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso  
19:45 Try: Bernasconi 32' c
Garbisi 80' m
Con: Umaga (1/2) 52'
Pen: Umaga 28'
 Report Try: Nash 7' c
Farrell 17' m
Coombes 34' c
Kleyn 46' c
Kendellen 56' m
Beirne 59' c
Gleeson 78' c
Con: Crowley 8', 35', 46', 59', 79'
Cards: Crowley Yellow card 63'
Casey Yellow card 66'		 Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
25 April 2026 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 41–14 Ireland Ulster Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Hodnett (4) 24' m, 29' c, 55' m, 68' m
Kendellen (3) 47' m, 53' c, 69' c
Con: JJ Hanrahan (3/7) 30', 53', 70'
 Report, 2 Try: King 13' c
Andrew 65' c
Con: Flannery (2) 13', 66'
Cards: Brigg Yellow card 23'		 Attendance: 17,364
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
9 May 2026 (1 BP) Connacht Ireland 26–7 Ireland Munster The Sportsground, Galway  
19:45 Try: B Murphy 13' c
Bolton 21' m
Hurley-Langton 34' c
Jansen 72' c
Con: Gilbert (3/4) 13', 35', 73'
 Report Try: Casey 68' c
Con: Hanrahan 69'
Cards: Barron Red card 16'		 Attendance: 12,481
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
16 May 2026 Munster Ireland 24–17 South Africa Lions (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
19:45 Try: O'Connell 7' c
Casey 41' c
Ahern 54' c
Con: JJ Hanrahan (3/3) 8', 42', 54'
Pen: JJ Hanrahan 23'
Cards: A Smith Yellow card 27'
O'Brien Yellow card 30'		 Report Try: Q. Horn 14' c
Mpeku 35' c
Con: CW Smith (2/2) 15', 36'
Pen: CW Smith 60'
 Attendance: 12,301
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Standings

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Glasgow Warriors 18 13 0 5 479 338 +141 72 48 11 2 65 Qualification for the Champions Cup and knockout stage
2 Leinster (CH) 18 12 0 6 515 370 +145 77 51 13 2 63
3 Stormers 18 12 1 5 504 344 +160 63 48 9 1 60
4 Bulls (RU) 18 12 0 6 576 406 +170 82 59 10 1 59
5 Munster 18 11 0 7 396 376 +20 59 51 8 3 55
6 Cardiff 18 11 0 7 353 372 −19 52 52 7 4 55
7 Lions 18 10 1 7 532 473 +59 73 70 9 3 54
8 Connacht 18 10 0 8 442 395 +47 62 56 10 4 54
9 Ulster 18 9 1 8 494 420 +74 72 60 10 4 52 Qualification for the Challenge Cup
10 Sharks 18 8 1 9 467 428 +39 71 57 9 3 46
11 Ospreys 18 7 2 9 376 454 −78 55 69 4 3 39
12 Edinburgh 18 7 0 11 362 439 −77 57 66 6 4 38
13 Benetton 18 6 2 10 327 493 −166 41 71 4 1 33
14 Scarlets 18 4 2 12 361 460 −99 52 63 3 5 28
15 Dragons 18 3 4 11 350 481 −131 46 71 4 4 28
16 Zebre 18 2 0 16 312 587 −275 43 85 3 4 15
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Updated to match(es) played on 16 May 2026. Source: UnitedRugby.com
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won 2) The difference between points for and points against 3) The number of tries scored 4) The most points scored 5) The difference between tries for and tries against 6) The fewest red cards received 7) The fewest yellow cards received.[24]

Playoffs

The top eight teams in the regular season standings advance to the knockout stage, a single-elimination tournament culminating in a Grand Final to crown the overall champion.

Teams are seeded based on the regular season standings, with teams ranked 1–4 receiving home field advantage in the quarter-final, with 1 playing 8, 2 playing 7 etc. The top two teams in the standings are seeded so as not to meet until the Grand Final.

Home-field advantage for the semi-finals and Grand Final will be awarded to the highest-ranked team in each tie; the top two teams are therefore guaranteed home advantage until the final for as long as they remain in the tournament, and the top ranked team, Glasgow Warriors, in the standings will be awarded home advantage should they reach the Grand Final. In the build up to the final week of the regular season, it was reported that Glasgow Warriors may be forced to play a semi-final and final outside Scotland due to venue unavailability, although they would technically remain the home team. In the week of the quarter-final, it was announced they would, if they progressed, play their semi-final and Grand Final on home soil, at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.[25]

Cardiff and Lions both made the play-offs for the first time. Stormers, Glasgow Warriors, Leinster, Munster and Bulls reached their fifth URC play-off phase from five seasons. Glasgow Warriors became the first non-Irish team to top the regular season table and take the number one seeding since they did so themselves in 2019.

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
         
1 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 33
8 Ireland Connacht 21
1 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 21
4 South Africa Bulls 22
4 South Africa Bulls 45
5 Ireland Munster 14
2 Ireland Leinster 36
4 South Africa Bulls 7
3 South Africa Stormers 44
6 Wales Cardiff 21
2 Ireland Leinster 20
3 South Africa Stormers 11
2 Ireland Leinster 59
7 South Africa Lions 10

Quarter-final'

30 May 2026 Bulls South Africa (4) 45–14 (5) Ireland Munster Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria  
13:00 Try: Papier (2) 5' c, 54' c
Arendse 8' c
Grobbelaar 35' c
Hanekom 39' c
Jacobs 59' c
Con: Pollard(6/6) 5', 10', 36', 40', 54', 60'
Pen: Pollard 23'
 Report Try: O'Donoghue 20' c
Nankivell 32' c
Con: Hanrahan (2/2) 20', 33'
 Attendance: 18,756
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

URC Irish Shield

More information Team, P ...
2025–26 United Rugby Championship Regional Shield tables view · watch · edit · discuss
Ireland Irish Shield
Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA TBP LBP Pts Pos overall
1Ireland Leinster 6501166120+46231540242
2Ireland Munster 630312691+35161521155
3Ireland Connacht 6204131157–27182122128
4Ireland Ulster 6204131147–16182212119
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:[26]
  1. number of matches won
  2. the difference between points for and points against
  3. the number of tries scored
  4. the most points scored
  5. the difference between tries for and tries against
  6. the fewest red cards received
  7. the fewest yellow cards received
Green background indicates teams currently leading the regional shield. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, these teams win their respective regional shields.

(S) : URC Shield champion

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European Rugby Champions Cup

Munster have been drawn in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup, along with URC colleagues Edinburgh (whom Munster will not play in line with the rules of the competition), along with Bath, Castres, Gloucester and Toulon.[27]

More information Pos, Pld ...
European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 2
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 England Bath (4) 4 3 0 1 180 89 +91 25 10 4 0 16 Home Champions Cup round of 16
2 France Toulon (7) 4 3 0 1 123 106 +17 14 13 2 0 14
3 France Castres (12) 4 2 0 2 98 106 −8 13 15 2 0 10 Away Champions Cup round of 16
4 Scotland Edinburgh (14) 4 2 0 2 69 140 −71 9 18 2 0 10
5 Ireland Munster (10CC) 4 1 0 3 99 101 −2 15 13 2 2 8 Away Challenge Cup round of 16
6 England Gloucester 4 1 0 3 75 102 −27 8 15 1 1 6
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Source: EPCR[28]
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers for teams tied on points: 1) Number of matches won; 2) Difference between points for and against; 3) Total number of points for; 4) Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams; 5) Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled.
Pool matches
6 December 2025 (1 BP) Bath England 40–14 Ireland Munster Recreation Ground, Bath  
20:00 Try: Penalty try 5'
Reid 9' c
Arundell 11' c
Dunn 18' c
Obano 37' c
Hill 77' m
Con: Russell (4/5) 10', 12', 19', 38'
Cards: Stuart Yellow card 28'		 Report Try: Edogbo 22' c
Casey 40' c
Con: Hanrahan (2/2) 23', 40+1'
Cards: Beirne Yellow card 5'		 Attendance: 14,506
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
13 December 2025 (1 BP) Munster Ireland 31–3 England Gloucester Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork  
17:30 Try: Kelly 21' c
Haley 50' m
Quinn 68' c
Farrell 73' c
Beirne 76' m
Con: Crowley (3/5) 22', 69', 74'
 Report Pen: Barton 3'
Cards: Ford-Robinson Yellow card 32'
James Yellow card 67'		 Attendance: 36,208
Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
11 January 2026 Toulon France 27–25 Ireland Munster (1 BP) Stade Mayol, Toulon  
14:00 Try: Domon 38' c
White 43' c
Dréan 49' c
Con: Domon (3/3) 39', 44', 50'
Pen: Domon (2/2) 64', 75'
Cards: Abadie Yellow card 56'
Ollivon Yellow card 68'		 Report Try: Nash 46' c
O'Donoghue 67' m
Farrell 71' c
Con: Crowley (2/3) 47', 72'
Pen: Crowley (2/2) 16', 31'
Cards: Beirne Yellow card 36'
Nankivell Yellow card 54'		 Attendance: 16,776
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
17 January 2026 (2 BP) Munster Ireland 29–31 France Castres (1 BP) Thomond Park, Limerick  
17:30 Try: Casey (2) 17' c 34' m
Abrahams 46' m
Edogbo (2) 59' m, 78' c
Con: Crowley (2/5) 18', 78'
Cards: Farrell Yellow card 63'		 Report Try: Karawalevu 10' c
Chabouni 38' c
Palis 67' c
Ambadiang 72' c
Con: Fernandez (2/2) 11', 39'
Herve (2/2) 68', 73'
Pen: Fernandez (1/1) 2'
Cards: Nakarawa Yellow card 75'		 Attendance: 20,043
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Knockout stage : EPCR Challenge Cup

Munster's loss to Castre in their final Champions Cup pool game confirmed their fifth-place finish in the pool, qualifying them for an away tie in the last sixteen of the second-tier 2025–26 EPCR Challenge Cup against Exeter Chiefs.

Round of 16 Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
1 France Montpellier 53
16 France Perpignan 13
1 France Montpellier 45
8 Ireland Connacht 22
8 Ireland Connacht 29
9 South Africa Sharks 12
1 France Montpellier 18
13 Wales Dragons 12
5 Italy Zebre Parma 31
12 France Pau 15
5 Italy Zebre Parma 32
13 Wales Dragons 35
4 France Stade Français 31
13 Wales Dragons 36
1 France Montpellier 59
3 Ireland Ulster 26
3 Ireland Ulster 28
14 Wales Ospreys 24
3 Ireland Ulster 41
11 France La Rochelle 24
6 England Newcastle Red Bulls 18
11 France La Rochelle 26
3 Ireland Ulster 29
7 England Exeter Chiefs 12
2 Italy Benetton 38
15 Wales Cardiff 35
2 Italy Benetton 41
7 England Exeter Chiefs 44
7 England Exeter Chiefs 31
10 Ireland Munster 21

Round of 16

4 April 2026 Exeter Chiefs England (7) 31–21 (10) Ireland Munster Sandy Park, Exeter  
12:30 Try: Vintcent 13' c
Slade 20' c
Rigg 33' c
Feyi-Waboso 38' c
Con: Slade (4/4) 14', 21', 34', 40'
Pen: Slade (1/1) 28'
 Report Try: Crowley (2) 49' c, 75' c
Beirne 68' c
Con: Crowley (3/3) 50', 68', 75'
Cards: Beirne Yellow card 73'		 Attendance: 11,636
Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)

Munster Women

IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

Main article: 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series

The 2025 IRFU Women's Interprovincial Series is being contested by women's teams representing the four provincial rugby unions of Ireland, under the same branding and uniforms as the senior men's teams in the United Rugby Championship. The competition currently uses a single round-robin format, similar to the one used in both the Six Nations Championship and the Women's Six Nations Championship. Each team plays the other three teams once.[29]

As in previous seasons the competition also features playoffs and a final.[30][31][32]

Leinster Women return as defending champions.

Table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Munster Women (CH) 3 3 0 0 115 44 +71 18 5 3 0 15 Qualified for Interprovincial final
2 Leinster Women (RU) 3 2 0 1 76 66 +10 14 10 2 0 10
3 Connacht Women 3 1 0 2 27 66 −39 5 12 0 1 5 Qualified for third/fourth place final
4 Ulster Women 3 0 0 3 43 87 −44 7 15 0 1 1
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First match(es) will be played: Unknown. Source: Unknown
Rules for classification: 1) competition points; 2) match points difference; 3) match points for

Matches

10 August 2025
14:30
(1 BP) Munster Women Ireland44-5Ireland Connacht Women
Try: Burke
Ugwueru (3)
Corey
Nunan
Flannery
Heylmann
Con: Finn (2/8)		ReportTry: Ryder
Musgrave Park, Cork
Referee: Euan O'Riordan (Ireland)
16 August 2025
14:30
(1 BP) Leinster Women Ireland22–33Ireland Munster Women (1 BP)
Try: Elmes Kinlan
Baker
Boyne
Whelan
Con: O'Sullivan Sexton (1/4)		ReportTry: Pearse (2)
Ugwueru
Flannery
Corey
Con: Finn (4/5)
Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
23 August 2025
16:15
Ulster Women Ireland17–38Ireland Munster Women (1 BP)
Try: Sheerin
Fitzsimons 2
Con: Sheerin (1/3)		ReportTry: Pearse
Ugwueru
Finn
Óg O'Leary (2)
McInerney
Con: Finn (4/6)
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
Referee: Dermot Blake (Ireland)

Interprovincial final

30 August 2025
16:30
Leinster Women Ireland15–50Ireland Munster Women
Try: Whelan (2)
Elmes Kinlan		Report, 2Try: Pearse
Nic a Bháird (2)
Corey
Óg O'Leary
Finn
Cahill
Con: Finn (6/7)
Pen: Finn
Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Daniel Carson (Ireland)

Celtic Challenge

The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge was the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The six-team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, the competition will include a finals series with semi-finals and a grand final.[33][34]

Clovers, a combined team representing Munster and Connacht, return for a third season.

Table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts Qualification
1 Ireland Wolfhounds (Q) 10 9 0 1 431 127 +304 66 20 9 0 45 Play-offs
2 Ireland Clovers (Q) 10 8 0 2 294 231 +63 48 37 7 0 39
3 Wales Gwalia Lightning (Q) 10 4 0 6 217 212 +5 34 35 5 4 25
4 Wales Brython Thunder (Q) 10 5 0 5 150 218 −68 24 35 2 1 23
5 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 10 2 0 8 154 236 −82 32 49 6 3 17
6 Scotland Edinburgh Rugby 10 2 0 8 152 321 −169 19 37 3 1 12
Close
First match(es) will be played: 20 December 2025. Source: Celtic Challenge[35]
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.

Clovers fixtures

20 December 2025
11:30
(1 BP) Clovers Ireland35–31Wales Gwalia Lightning (2 BP)
Try: McGrath (2)
Murphy
Adams Verling
McGrath
Con: Finn (5)
Cards: Murphy Yellow card 79'		ReportTry: Hill
Greenway
Davies (2)
Vucaj
Con: Hughes (3)
Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin
Referee: Dermot Blake
3 January 2026
15:00
Clovers Ireland7–24Ireland Wolfhounds (1 BP)
Try: Adams Verling 40+2' c
Con: Finn 40+3'		ReportTry: Dalton 6' c
O'Connor 37' m
Boylan 64' m
Higgins 69' c
Con: O'Brien (2) 7', 70'
Creggs RFC
Referee: Shane Tuohy
11 January 2026
12:00
(1 BP) Brython Thunder Wales12–15Ireland Clovers
Try: Williams
Crabb
Con: Marshall		ReportTry: Foley
Linn
Con: Finn
Pen: Finn
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
18 January 2026
15:00
(1 BP) Clovers Ireland57–31Scotland Glasgow Warriors (1 BP)
Try: McInerney (2)
Finn
McGann
McGrath
Murphy
Whelan
McGrath
Corey
Con: Finn (6)		ReportTry: McNamara
Flynn (2)
Coubrough
Bogan
Con: Ainsworth (3)
Cards: Flynn Yellow card 9'
Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast
25 January 2026
12:00
(1 BP) Clovers Ireland29-12Wales Brython Thunder
Try: McCarthy
Cournane
Lane
Murphy
Corey
Con: Finn (2)		ReportTry: Rogers
Bowden
Con: Williams
Cards: Bluck Yellow card 15'
Musgrave Park, Cork
Referee: Paudie Sheehan (Ireland)
31 January 2026
14:00
(2 BP) Glasgow Warriors Scotland31–38Ireland Clovers (1 BP)
Try: Coubrough
Bogan
Warren
Penalty try
McNamara
Con: Warren
McNamara		ReportTry: Oviawe
McGrath (2)
Whelan
McGann
Hession
Con: Finn (3)
Hession
Cards: Ugwueru Yellow card 68'
Oviawe Yellow card 71'
Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
Referee: Ciaran Stark (Scotland)
14 February 2026
13:00
(1 BP) Gwalia Lightning Wales14–19Ireland Clovers
Try: Greenway
Hill
Con: Hughes (2)		ReportTry: Corey
McInerney
Murphy
Con: Hession (2)
CSE, Ystrad Mynach
21 February 2026
12:30
(1 BP) Clovers Ireland31-7Scotland Edinburgh Rugby
Try: Corey
Adams Verling
Ugwueru (2)
Buttimer
Con: (3/5)		ReportTry: McMahon
Con: (1/1)
The Sportsground, Galway
28 February 2026
13:00
(1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby Scotland26-43Ireland Clovers (1 BP)
Try: Moody
Mathieson
Haddow
Ferrie
Con: (3/4)		Try: Parsons
Buttimer (2)
Campbell
Cahill
McGann
McGrath
Con: (4/7)
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
7 March 2026
15:00
(1 BP) Wolfhounds Ireland43-20Ireland Clovers (1 BP)
Try: Moore
Daley (2)
Marley
King (2)
O'Connor
Con: O'Brien (4/7)
Cards: Clenaghan Red card		ReportTry: Parsons
McGann (2)
Whelan
UCD Bowl, Dublin

Play-offs

For the first time, the Celtic Challenge will have play-offs to crown a champion, with the top four teams in the regular season advancing to semi-finals, followed by a grand final. With their 52–7 victory of third-placed Gwalia Lightning in round 9, Wolfhounds ensured that both Irish franchises would have a home nation semi-final; both matches were fixed for the Dexcom Stadium, Galway, while the final will take place in a preselected venue, Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.

On 21 March both Irish franchises defeated their Welsh semi-final opposition to set up an all-Ireland final for 28 March, guaranteeing a fourth consecutive Irish champion of the Challenge. On 28 March, Wolfhounds won their third title, defeating Clovers 50 - 29.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 21 March 2026 – Galway
 
 
 Ireland Wolfhounds 36
 
 28 March 2026 – Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh[36]
 
 Wales Brython Thunder 10
 
 Ireland Wolfhounds 50
 
 21 March 2026 – Galway
 
 Ireland Clovers 29
 
 Ireland Clovers35
 
 
 Wales Gwalia Lightning 20
 

Semi-finals

21 March 2026
14:30
Wolfhounds Ireland36–10Wales Brython Thunder
Try: Naoise Smyth
Stacey Flood (2)
Niamh Higgins
Vicky Elmes Kinlan
Robyn O'Connor
Con: Dannah O'Brien (3)		ReportTry: Branwen Metcalfe
Jorja Aiono
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Referee: John Lillis (IRFU)
21 March 2026
12:00
Clovers Ireland35–20Wales Gwalia Lightning
Try: Beth Buttimer
Béibhinn Parsons
Alana McInerney (2)
Ruth Campbell
Con: Enya Breen (5)		Report, 2Try: Alaw Pyrs (2)
Caitlin Lewis
Con: Carys Hughes
Pen: Hughes
Dexcom Stadium, Galway
Referee: Paul O’Connor (IRFU)

Final

28 March 2026
15:00
Wolfhounds Ireland50 - 29Ireland Clovers
Try: Vicky Elmes Kinlan (2)
Linda Djougang (2)
Erin King (2)
Maeve Óg O’Leary
Caoimhe Molloy
Con: Dannah O’Brien (4)
Abby Moyles		ReportTry: Niamh Murphy
Eilís Cahill (2)
Béibhinn Parsons (2)
Con: Enya Breen (2)
Cards: Ailish Quinn Yellow card
Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh
Referee: Jonny Mackenzie (SRU)

References

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