2023–24 Celtic Challenge
The 2023–24 Celtic Challenge was the second season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The enlarged six team tournament featured a single round robin fixture series, after which the six team table is split in two. This is followed by three further 'play-off' rounds in a set of three double-header fixtures. Each team will therefore play a seven match season.
| 2023–24 Celtic Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Ireland Wales Scotland |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Champions | Wolfhounds (1st title) |
| Runners-up | Edinburgh |
| Matches played | 21 |
| Official website | |
| celticrugbycomp | |
Teams and locations
In December 2023, the six teams were confirmed.[1][2][3][4]
| Team | Country | Coach / Director of Rugby |
Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brython Thunder | Wales | Ashley Beck[5] | Parc y Scarlets | Llanelli | 14,870 |
| Eirias Stadium | Colwyn Bay | 6,080 | |||
| Clovers | Ireland | Denis Fogarty[6] | Donnybrook Stadium | Dublin | 6,000 |
| Musgrave Park | Cork | 8,008 | |||
| Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland | Claire Cruikshank[7] | Edinburgh Rugby Stadium | Edinburgh | 7,800 |
| Glasgow Warriors | Scotland | Chris Laidlaw[8] | Scotstoun Stadium | Glasgow | 9,708 |
| Gwalia Lightning | Wales | Catrina Nicholas-McLaughlin[5] | Cardiff Arms Park | Cardiff | 12,125 |
| Wolfhounds | Ireland | Neil Alcorn[6] | Musgrave Park | Cork | 8,008 |
| Ravenhill Stadium | Belfast | 18,196 | |||
| Donnybrook Stadium | Dublin | 6,000 |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolfhounds | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 238 | 130 | +108 | 38 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 32 |
| 2 | Edinburgh Rugby | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 160 | 134 | +26 | 26 | 22 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Clovers | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 142 | 147 | −5 | 23 | 23 | 2 | 1 | 17 |
| 4 | Gwalia Lightning | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 164 | 134 | +30 | 20 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 |
| 5 | Brython Thunder | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 113 | 137 | −24 | 20 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 6 | Glasgow Warriors | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 87 | 222 | −135 | 13 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source:
Rules for classification: After Round 5, the table is split in two for the final two play-off rounds.[9]
Rules for classification: After Round 5, the table is split in two for the final two play-off rounds.[9]
Regular season
The fixtures were announced on 5 December 2023.[1][2][3][4]
Round 1
| 29 December 2023 13:00 |
| Wolfhounds | 21 - 15 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Try: Linda Djougang 63' c Sarah Delaney 69' c Eimear Corri 77' c Con: Nikki Caughey (3) 63', 69', 77' Cards: Keelin Brady 74' to 80' | Report | Try: Beth Buttimer 38' m Ailsa Hughes 58' m Clara Barrett 80+1' m |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Joy Neville |
| 30 December 2023 12:00 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 28 - 12 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Try: Bell, McNamara (2), Fletcher Con: Marlow (4) | Report | Try: McMillan, Tucker Con: MacRae |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 1,934 Referee: Hollie Davidson |
| 1 January 2024 14:00 |
| Gwalia Lightning | 20 - 5 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: K Williams, C Richards (2) Con: Metcalfe Pen: Metcalfe | Report | Try: M Davies |
| Rodney Parade, Newport[10] |
Round 2
| 6 January 2024 14:00 |
| Edinburgh Rugby | 17 - 27 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Try: Emma Orr (2), Cieron Bell Con: Briar McNamara | Report | Try: Sarah Delaney, Natasja Behan, Aoife Wafer (2), Brittany Hogan Con: Dannah O’Brien |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Michael Todd |
| 6 January 2024 14:00 |
| Clovers | 20 - 5 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Ailsa Hughes, Ruth Campbell, Sadhbh McGrath Con: Méabh Deely Pen: Méabh Deely | Report | Try: Alex Callender |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Michael Forrestal |
| 7 January 2024 13:30 |
| Gwalia Lightning | 36 - 19 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Try: Hopkins (2), Richards, Hughes, Constable, Jones Con: Metcalfe (3) | Report | Try: Bogan, Tucker (2) Con: Macrae (2) |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
Round 3
| 13 January 2024 14:30 |
| Glasgow Warriors | 12 - 40 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Try: Phaedra Snailham, Louise McMillan Con: Lucy MacRae Cards: Phaedra Snailham 75' to 80' | Report | Try: Sarah Delaney, Linda Djougang, Sophie Barrett, Katie Whelan, Katie Corrigan, Brittany Hogan Con: Dannah O’Brien (2), Nikki Caughey (3) |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Sam O’Neil |
| 14 January 2024 13:00 |
| Clovers | 19 - 17 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Try: Kate Flannery, Clare Gorman, Róisín Ormond Con: Kate Flannery (2) Cards: Alana McInerney 33' to 43', Beth Buttimer 52' to 62' | Report | Try: Gwennan Hopkins, Molly Reardon, Tess Evans Con: Sian Jones |
| Musgrave Park, Cork Referee: Kevin Coffey |
| 14 January 2024 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Brython Thunder | 17 - 22 | Edinburgh Rugby (1 BP) |
| Try: Wakely, Tromans, A Williams Con: A Williams Cards: E Tromans | Report | Try: Muzambe, Mattinson, Walker, Bell Con: Marlow |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
Round 4
| 27 January 2024 14:00 |
| Glasgow Warriors | 10 - 29 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Try: Izzy Hannay, Beth Blacklock | Report | Try: Méabh Deely, Dorothy Wall, Beth Buttimer, Ivana Kiripati, Brianna Heylmann Con: Kate Flannery (2) |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow Referee: Ciaran Stark |
| 27 January 2024 19:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 41 - 10 | Brython Thunder |
| Try: Brittany Hogan, Sarah Delaney, Katie Corrigan (4), Niamh Marley Con: Nikki Caughey (3) | Report | Try: Chloe Thomas-Bradley, Sioned Harries |
| Ravenhill Stadium, Belfast Referee: Andrew Munce |
| 28 January 2024 13:30 |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 19 - 20 | Edinburgh Rugby (1 BP) |
| Try: Jones (2), Thicker Con: Wilkins (2) | Report | Try: Whitehouse, Bell, Fletcher, Muzambe |
| Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff |
Round 5
| 3 February 2024 12:30 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 35 - 21 | Clovers |
| Try: Molly Poolman, Millie Whitehouse, Emma Orr, Sarah Denholm, Lisa Thomson Con: Nicole Marlow, Briar McNamara Pen: Nicole Marlow, Briar McNamara | Report | Try: Alana McInerney, Niamh O’Dowd, Chisom Ugwueru Con: Kate Flannery (2), Méabh Deely |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Rob McDowell |
| 3 February 2024 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 36 - 24 | Gwalia Lightning (1 BP) |
| Try: Katie Heffernan, Katie Corrigan (3), Niamh Marley, Christy Haney Con: Nikki Caughey (3) | Report | Try: Katie Thicker, Jenna De Vera, Caitlin Lewis, Rebecca De Filippo Con: Robyn Wilkins (2) |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Max Weston |
| 3 February 2024 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Brython Thunder | 22 - 12 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Try: Callender (2), Williams, Singleton Con: Wilkinson | Report | Try: Fraser (2) Con: Ainsworth |
| Eirias Stadium, Colwyn Bay |
Play-offs
Unlike the inaugural competition, the 2023–24 competition will have a play-off stage. This involves splitting the teams into 2 tiers after the initial set of 5 rounds, the top 3 and the bottom 3. The teams will play the teams in their tier once more. The points from the all matches will count.[1][11][12]
Round 6
| 17 February 2024 13:00 |
| (1 BP) Edinburgh Rugby | 26 - 26 | Wolfhounds (1 BP) |
| Try: Emma Orr (2), Cieron Bell, Alex Stewart Con: Nicole Marlow (3) | Report | Try: Ellen Boylan, Christy Haney, Linda Djougang, Katie Corrigan Con: Nikki Caughey (3) |
| Edinburgh Rugby Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: David Young |
| 17 February 2024 16:30 |
| (1 BP) Glasgow Warriors | 17 - 24 | Brython Thunder (1 BP) |
| Try: McLaren, Fraser Con: MacRae (2) Pen: MacRae | Report | Try: Harries,Thomas-Bradley, Wakely, Webb Con: Wilkinson (2) |
| Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow |
Round 7
| 24 February 2024 12:30 |
| (1 BP) Gwalia Lightning | 43 - 5 | Glasgow Warriors |
| Try: King, Wilkins, M Davies, Constable, Reardon, K Davies, Parry Con: Wilkins (4) | Report | Try: Anderson |
| Kingspan Stadium, Belfast |
| 24 February 2024 16:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 47 - 26 | Clovers (1 BP) |
| Try: Katie Corrigan (3), Kelly McCormill, Hannah O’Connor, Katie Whelan (2) Con: Nikki Caughey (6) | Report | Try: Róisín Ormond, Beth Buttimer, Maeve Óg O’Leary, Brianna Heylmann Con: Kate Flannery (2), Nicole Fowley |
| Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Referee: Andrew Mitchell |
Round 8
| 3 March 2024 12:30 |
| Clovers | 12 - 12 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Try: Gorman, Barrett Con: Flannery | Report | Try: McNamara, Lloyd Con: Marlow |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Referee: Jenny Davies |
| 3 March 2024 15:30 |
| Brython Thunder | 30 - 5 | Gwalia Lightning |
| Try: Tromans, A Williams, Wakely, Harries, Morgan Con: Wilkinson Drop: Harries | Report | Try: M Davies |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
Notes
References
- "Thunder and Lightning set for Celtic Challenge". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- "Celtic Challenge competition format confirmed alongside alignment of Scottish sides to Edinburgh Rugby & Glasgow Warriors". Scottish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- "Fixtures and Team Names for Celtic Challenge Announced". Irish Rugby. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- "Two new teams to represent Wales in expanded Celtic Challenge". Welsh Rugby Union. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- "Head coaches named for Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- "Irish Rugby | Celtic Challenge Kit Reveal and Coaching Teams Announced". Irish Rugby. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- "Claire Cruikshank to lead Edinburgh Rugby Women's Team". Edinburgh Rugby. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- "Glasgow Warriors announce coaching team for Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
- "Irish Rugby | Clovers Progress To Top Three Play-Offs Despite Edinburgh Defeat". Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- "Celtic Challenge: Teams named for Gwalia Lightning v Brython Thunder". BBC Sport. 29 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- "Clovers Progress To Top Three Play-Offs Despite Edinburgh Defeat". irishrugby.ie. 3 February 2023.
- "Play Offs Explained". Celtic Challenge. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 3 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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