2023 Celtic Challenge

2023 Celtic Challenge
Countries	Ireland   Wales   Scotland
Number of teams	6
Champions	Combined Provinces XV (1st title)
Runners-up	The Thistles
Matches played	6
Official website
celticrugbycomp.com
← inaugural 2023–24  →

The 2023 Celtic Challenge was the inaugural season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The competition consisted of three representative teams, one representing each nation. This was the only season following this format, with six new teams taking the field for the 2023-24 season.

Teams and locations

This first edition consisted of six matches in a double round-robin: ^{[1] [2]}

Union	Ireland	Scotland	Wales
Team	Combined Provinces XV	The Thistles	Wales Development XV

Matches

Matchday	Home team	Score	Away team	Venue	Date	Ref
1	The Thistles	27–29	Wales Development XV	Scotstoun Stadium	22 January 2023	[3] [4] [5]
2	Wales Development XV	26–27	Combined Provinces XV	Cardiff Arms Park	29 January 2023	[6] [7] [8]
3	Combined Provinces XV	45–12	The Thistles	Kingspan Stadium	4 February 2023	[9] [10] [11]
4	Wales Development XV	7–21	The Thistles	Cardiff Arms Park	11 February 2023	[12] [13] [14]
5	Combined Provinces XV	19–0	Wales Development XV	Kingspan Stadium	18 February 2023	[15] [16] [17]
6	The Thistles	26–33	Combined Provinces XV	DAM Health Stadium	25 February 2023	[18] [19]

Final table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	TB	LB	Pts
1	Combined Provinces XV(C)	4	4	0	0	124	64	+60	18	3	0	19
2	The Thistles	4	1	0	3	86	114	−28	14	1	2	7
3	Wales Development XV	4	1	0	3	62	94	−32	9	0	1	5

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) competition points; 2) match points difference; 3) match points for
(C) Champion

References

1. "Celtic Challenge – Rugby" . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
2. "Celtic Challenge kicks off this weekend". ScrumQueens.com. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
3. "Match Report: The Thistles v WRU Development XV". Scottish Rugby Union . 22 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
4. "WRU Development XV claims win in Scotland". Welsh Rugby Union . 22 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
5. "Celtic Challenge: Thistles 27-29 WRU Development XV". BBC . 22 January 2023. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
6. "Close Celtic challenge at Arms Park". Welsh Rugby Union . 29 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
7. "Combined Provinces Win Opening Celtic Challenge Clash In Wales". Irish Rugby Football Union . 29 January 2023. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
8. "Celtic Challenge: WRU Development XV 26-27 Combined Provinces XV". BBC . 29 January 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
9. "Combined Provinces Win With Seven Tries At Kingspan Stadium". Irish Rugby Football Union . 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
10. "Match Report: Combined Provinces v The Thistles". Scottish Rugby Union . 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
11. "Celtic Challenge: Combined Irish Provinces earn 45-12 win over Scottish Thistles". BBC . 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
12. "Thistles gain revenge over Development XV". Welsh Rugby Union . 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
13. "Match Report: WRU Development XV v The Thistles". Scottish Rugby Union . 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
14. "Celtic Challenge: WRU Development XV 7-21 Thistles". BBC . 11 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
15. "Combined Provinces Notch Up Third Celtic Challenge Win". Irish Rugby Football Union . 18 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
16. "Combined Provinces remain unbeaten in Celtic Challenge". Welsh Rugby Union . 18 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
17. "Celtic Challenge: Irish Provinces clinch title as Wales draw blank". BBC . 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
18. "Match Report: The Thistles v Combined Provinces". Scottish Rugby Union . 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
19. "Combined Provinces Finish Celtic Challenge Unbeaten". Irish Rugby Football Union . 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2023.