Edinburgh Rugby Women

Edinburgh Rugby

Full name	Edinburgh Rugby Women
Union	Scottish Rugby Union
Founded	2023
Location	Edinburgh, Scotland
Ground	Hive Stadium (Capacity: 7,800)
Coach	Claire Cruikshank
League	Celtic Challenge
Team kit
Official website
edinburghrugby.org
Current season

Edinburgh Rugby Women are a select provincial rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the Celtic Challenge league.

History

Edinburgh Rugby Women was formed in December 2023 by Edinburgh Rugby and the Scottish Rugby Union to play in the Celtic Challenge, ^[1] a cross-border women's rugby union competition that will be held annually. The competition was launched in 2023 and is designed to develop players for the Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. ^[1]

Stadium

Edinburgh Rugby women's side play their home matches at Hive Stadium.

Current standings

Main article: 2025–26 Celtic Challenge

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Brython Thunder	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	qualifies for home semi-final
2	Clovers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Edinburgh Rugby	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	qualifies for semi-final
4	Glasgow Warriors	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	Gwalia Lightning	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
6	Wolfhounds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

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.

Coaches

The coaching team was announced in December 2024. ^[2]

Name	Position
Claire Cruikshank	Head coach

Current squad

2024/25 Squad

Forwards Adelle Ferrie (Corstorphine Cougars) Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh) Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars) Alison Wilson (Heriots) Caroline Bullock (University of Edinburgh) Charlotte Russell (Watsonians) Chloe Brown (Stirling County) Faye Sutherland (Corstorphine Cougars) Georgia Young (Watsonians) Hannah McMahon (University of Edinburgh) Karis Craig (Watsonians) Megan Riach (Garioch) Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars) Millie Capaldi (Heriots) Molly Poolman (Watsonians) Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh) Samaanther Taganekurukuru (Stirling County) Talei Tawake (Watsonians) Backs Ami Conchie (Watsonians) April McKenzie (Watsonians) Dawn Lawrie (Watsonians) Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars) Giselle Chicot (Watsonians) Hannah Ramsay (University of Edinburgh) Hannah Walker (University of Edinburgh) Holly Mclntyre (University of Edinburgh) Lisa Brown (University of Edinburgh) Lucy MacRae (University of Edinburgh) Pip Benson (Corstorphine Cougars) Rhea Clarke (University of Edinburgh)

2023/24 Squad

The squad for the 2023–24 season was announced on 18 December 2023. [3] On 29 December 2023 Sarah Denholm was named as captain as part of the first game squad announcement. [4] Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality. Player Position Union Aila Ronald [a] Hooker Scotland Millie Whitehouse Hooker Scotland Katie Lindsay [a] Prop Scotland Poppy Fletcher [a] Prop Scotland Alison Wilson Prop Scotland Millie Capaldi Prop Scotland Molly Poolman Prop Scotland Adelle Ferrie Second row Scotland Lucy Kidd Second row Scotland Natasha Logan [a] Second row Scotland Rachel Cox Back row Scotland Merryn Gunderson Back row Scotland Alex Stewart [a] Back row Scotland Sam Taganekurukuru Back row Scotland Sophie Murphy Back row Scotland Freya Walker [a] Number 8 Scotland Player Position Union Ami Conchie ?? Scotland Sarah Denholm [a] (cc) Fly-half Scotland April McKenzie [a] ?? Scotland Briar McNamara Centre Scotland Cieron Bell [a] Wing Scotland Emma Orr [a] Centre Scotland Giselle Chicot ?? Scotland Hannah Chrisp ?? Scotland Hannah Ramsay ?? Scotland Hannah Walker [a] Wing Scotland Mary Nelson ?? Scotland Nicole Flynn ?? Scotland Rachel Philipps [a] ?? Scotland Zoe Turner ?? Scotland Transitional players On 27 December 2023, Scottish Rugby announced 11 transitional players that could play for either Scottish Celtic challenge team. [5] Transitional players were selected through a Scottish qualified programme, a programme to develop and support Scottish qualified players living outside of Scotland, as well as players who have previously been involved with Scotland but currently live outside of Scotland. [5] Name Position Club Izzy Hannay Flanker Harlequins Gemma Bell Flanker Gloucester-Hartpury Evie Addy Prop Gloucester-Hartpury Nicole Marlow Fly Half Cardiff Metropolitan University Leia Brebner-Holden Scrum Half Gloucester-Hartpury Izzy McGuire-Evans Centre Sale Sharks Orla Proctor Full Back Leicester Tigers Nicola Haynes Hooker Saracens Demi Swann Prop Exeter Chiefs Fiona McIntosh Lock Saracens Panashe Muzambe Prop Exeter Chiefs International players International players released to play for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge league. [6] Name Position Club Caity Mattinson Scrum Half Gloucester-Hartpury Jenny Maxwell Scrum Half Loughborough Lightning

Notes

1. Scottish Rugby Regional Training Centre supported player.

References

1. "Edinburgh & Glasgow launch women's teams". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
2. "CLAIRE CRUIKSHANK TO LEAD EDINBURGH RUGBY WOMEN'S TEAM". Edinburgh Rugby. 6 January 2024.
3. "Edinburgh Rugby women's squad announced". Edinburgh Rugby. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
4. "Turner and Clarke named co-captains for Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
5. "Scottish Rugby names Transitional Players available for Celtic Challenge selection". Scottish Rugby. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
6. "Mattinson set for Edinburgh Debut". Edinburgh Rugby . 12 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.