Celtic Challenge

Last updated

Celtic Challenge
Current season, competition or edition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2023–24 Celtic Challenge
CelticChallengeLogo.webp
Sport Rugby union
Founded2023;1 year ago (2023)
No. of teams6
CountryIRFU flag.svg  Ireland
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland
Most recent
champion(s)		 IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds (1st title)
Most titles IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV
IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds (one title)
Official website https://celticrugbycomp.com/

The Celtic Challenge is a cross-border women's rugby union competition that will be held annually, launched in 2023. Designed to develop players for the Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the inaugural pilot edition featured a double round robin between three teams, one from each participating union. From 2024 the competition will involve six teams, two from each participating union. [1] [2]

Contents

The three participating unions fund the competition, with further development funding from World Rugby.

Teams

Current teams
TeamEstablishedTitles (last)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Brython Thunder2023– (N/A)
IRFU flag.svg Clovers2023– (N/A)
Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Rugby 2023– (N/A)
Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors 2023– (N/A)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gwalia Lightning2023– (N/A)
IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds20231 (2023–24)

All time

A total of 9 clubs have been involved in since the league's inception in the 2023 season.

Below, the 2023–24 clubs are listed along with the number of full seasons they've competed in. Current clubs are shown in bold. The seasons each club has participated in, including the present one, are displayed in the last column.

Seasons CompetedTeamSeasons Participated
1 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Brython Thunder2023–24
1 IRFU flag.svg Clovers2023–24
1 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV2023
1 Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Rugby 2023–24
1 Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors 2023–24
1 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gwalia Lightning2023–24
1 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles2023
1 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV2023
1 IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds2023–24

History

2023 competition

The inaugural year of the competition in 2023 consisted of three teams: [2]

Union IRFU flag.svg Ireland Flag of Scotland.svg Scotland Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales
TeamCombined Provinces XVThe ThistlesWales Development XV

The first edition consisted of six matches in a double round robin: [3] [4]

MatchdayHome teamScoreAway teamVenueDateRef
1 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles27–29 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV Scotstoun Stadium 22 January 2023 [5] [6] [7]
2 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV 26–27 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV Cardiff Arms Park 29 January 2023 [8] [9] [10]
3 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV 45–12 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles Kingspan Stadium 4 February 2023 [11] [12] [13]
4 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV7–21 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles Cardiff Arms Park 11 February 2023 [14] [15] [16]
5 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV19–0 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV Kingspan Stadium 18 February 2023 [17] [18] [19]
6 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles 26–33 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV DAM Health Stadium 25 February 2023 [20] [21]
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDTTBLBPts
1 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV(C)440012464+60183019
2 Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles410386114−2814127
3 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XV41036294−329015

2023–24 competition

In November 2023 it was announced that for the second season, the competition would expand to six teams. [22]

In December it was announced that the 2023–24 competition will run from December to March 2024 and will be contested by six teams:

The teams will play each other once, either home or away, across five rounds before play-offs to decide a champion in March 2024. [26]

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References

  1. ↑ Barnes, David (2022-12-21). "Celtic Challenge to provide high-performance opportunities ahead of TikTok Six Nations". The Offside Line. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. 1 2 Reid, Alasdair (2023-11-20). "Young 'Thistles' set for new women's rugby challenge as Celtic Challenge announced". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Celtic Challenge – Rugby" . Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  4. ↑ "Celtic Challenge kicks off this weekend". ScrumQueens.com. 2023-01-18. Archived from the original on 2023-01-18. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  5. ↑ "Match Report: The Thistles v WRU Development XV". Scottish Rugby Union . 2023-01-22. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  6. ↑ "WRU Development XV claims win in Scotland". Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-01-22. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  7. ↑ "Celtic Challenge: Thistles 27-29 WRU Development XV". BBC . 2023-01-22. Archived from the original on 2023-01-22. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  8. ↑ "Close Celtic challenge at Arms Park". Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-01-29. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  9. ↑ "Combined Provinces Win Opening Celtic Challenge Clash In Wales". Irish Rugby Football Union . 2023-01-29. Archived from the original on 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  10. ↑ "Celtic Challenge: WRU Development XV 26-27 Combined Provinces XV". BBC . 2023-01-29. Archived from the original on 2023-01-29. Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  11. ↑ "Combined Provinces Win With Seven Tries At Kingspan Stadium". Irish Rugby Football Union . 2023-02-04. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  12. ↑ "Match Report: Combined Provinces v The Thistles". Scottish Rugby Union . 2023-02-04. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  13. ↑ "Celtic Challenge: Combined Irish Provinces earn 45-12 win over Scottish Thistles". BBC . 2023-02-05. Archived from the original on 2023-02-06. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
  14. ↑ "Thistles gain revenge over Development XV". Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-02-11. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  15. ↑ "Match Report: WRU Development XV v The Thistles". Scottish Rugby Union . 2023-02-11. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  16. ↑ "Celtic Challenge: WRU Development XV 7-21 Thistles". BBC . 2023-02-11. Archived from the original on 2023-02-12. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  17. ↑ "Combined Provinces Notch Up Third Celtic Challenge Win". Irish Rugby Football Union . 2023-02-18. Archived from the original on 2023-02-19. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  18. ↑ "Combined Provinces remain unbeaten in Celtic Challenge". Welsh Rugby Union . 2023-02-18. Archived from the original on 2023-02-19. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  19. ↑ "Celtic Challenge: Irish Provinces clinch title as Wales draw blank". BBC . 2023-02-19. Archived from the original on 2023-02-19. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  20. ↑ "Match Report: The Thistles v Combined Provinces". Scottish Rugby Union . 2023-02-25. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  21. ↑ "Combined Provinces Finish Celtic Challenge Unbeaten". Irish Rugby Football Union . 2023-02-25. Archived from the original on 2023-02-26. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  22. ↑ "Celtic Challenge to expand in second year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  23. ↑ "Fixtures and Team Names for Celtic Challenge Announced". Irish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  24. ↑ "Two new teams to represent Wales in expanded Celtic Challenge". Welsh Rugby Union. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  25. ↑ "Celtic Challenge competition format confirmed alongside alignment of Scottish sides to Edinburgh Rugby & Glasgow Warriors". Scottish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "Thunder and Lightning set for Celtic Challenge". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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