Celtic Challenge

Last updated

Celtic Challenge
Current season, competition or edition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2024–25 Celtic Challenge
CelticChallengeLogo.webp
Sport Rugby union
Founded2023;2 years 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] Beginning with the 2024–25 season, the competition will maintain its six-team setup, transitioning into a full home-and-away round-robin format. The winners will be determined by standings at the end of the season. [3]

Contents

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

Teams

Current teams

TeamEstablishedLocation [a] SeasonsTitles (last)Runners-up
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Brython Thunder 2023 Llanelli [4] 2– (N/A)– (N/A)
IRFU flag.svg Clovers2023 Munster & Connacht [5] 2– (N/A)– (N/A)
Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Rugby 2023 Edinburgh [6] 2– (N/A)1 (2023–24)
Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Warriors 2023 Glasgow [7] 2– (N/A)– (N/A)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Gwalia Lightning 2023 Cardiff [8] 2– (N/A)– (N/A)
IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds2023 Leinster & Ulster [9] 21 (2023–24)– (N/A)

Previous teams

Nine clubs have been involved in the league since its inception in the 2023 season. Below, all former clubs are listed along with the number of full seasons they've competed in.

TeamAreaEstablishedDisbandedSeasonsTitlesRunners-up
IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XVIreland2023202311 (2023)– (N/A)
Flag of Scotland.svg The ThistlesScotland202320231– (N/A)1 (2023)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales Development XVWales202320231– (N/A)– (N/A)

Champions

The winners and runners up of each edition are listed below:

SeasonWinnerRunner-up
2023 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV Flag of Scotland.svg The Thistles
2023–24 IRFU flag.svg Wolfhounds Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Rugby
2024–25

Summary of winners

#TeamChampionsYears as championsRunners-upYears as runners-up
1 IRFU flag.svg Combined Provinces XV1 2023 0—
IRFU flag.svg Wofhounds 2023–24

History

2023 competition

The first edition consisted of six matches in a double round robin: [10] [11]

The competition involved 3 teams:

2023–24 competition

In November 2023 it was announced that for the second season, the competition would expand to six teams and twenty one matches. [12]

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. [16]

2024-25 competition

The six teams from the 2023–24 season returned for the 2024–25 season. The competition was expanded into a full double round-robin, in effect creating a Women's Celtic League competition. As a result, the end-of-season play-off was removed and standings will be decided by table standings at the end of the season. Each team will play 5 home matches and five away matches.

Notes

  1. ↑ Team base location

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References

  1. ↑ Barnes, David (21 December 2022). "Celtic Challenge to provide high-performance opportunities ahead of TikTok Six Nations". The Offside Line. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. ↑ Reid, Alasdair (20 November 2023). "Young 'Thistles' set for new women's rugby challenge as Celtic Challenge announced". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "Edinburgh & Glasgow return for expanded Celtic Challenge". BBC Sport. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  4. ↑ "Brython Thunder". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  5. ↑ "Clovers". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  6. ↑ "Edinburgh Rugby". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Glasgow Warriors". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "Gwalia Lightning". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Wolfhounds". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Celtic Challenge – Rugby" . Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  11. ↑ "Celtic Challenge kicks off this weekend". ScrumQueens.com. 18 January 2023. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "Celtic Challenge to expand in second year". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "Fixtures and Team Names for Celtic Challenge Announced". Irish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "Two new teams to represent Wales in expanded Celtic Challenge". Welsh Rugby Union. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  15. ↑ "Celtic Challenge competition format confirmed alongside alignment of Scottish sides to Edinburgh Rugby & Glasgow Warriors". Scottish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  16. ↑ "Thunder and Lightning set for Celtic Challenge". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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