Celtic Challenge 2024/25

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 20: Edinburgh's Hannah Walker scores their first try of the match during a Celtic Challenge Cup match between Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors at the Hive Stadium, on December 20, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)

Celtic Challenge Tickets

Celtic Challenge Fixtures and Results

Squads

Edinburgh Rugby’s Head Coach, Claire Cruikshank has confirmed a 30-player roster featuring a blend of returning talent and emerging prospects.

Notably, several players have been involved in Scotland women’s squads since last season’s Celtic Challenge including Alex Stewart, who earned her first cap against Wales in the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, and Aila Ronald, who traveled to South Africa as part of Scotland’s WXV2 squad.

Additionally, Hannah Walker, who captained Scotland U20 during the summer, returns to action in the back-three. Other returning faces from the U20 squad include Molly Poolman (tighthead), Natasha Logan (lock) and Merryn Gunderson (back-row).

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach, Lindsey Smith has also named a 30-strong core squad.

10 of the playing group that will kick off their campaign against Edinburgh in just under a fortnight’s time return from the squad’s inaugural season, with nine clubs represented across the cohort selected by Smith and her coaching team.

The club’s 2023/24 Coaches’ Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season both return for 2024/25, as Holland Bogan – who trained with the senior Scotland setup ahead of their recent WXV2 campaign – and Ailie Tucker are included amongst Smith’s playing group.

Arnold Clark Premiership finalists, Stirling County, contribute the most players to the squad with seven, including returning Warriors in the form of Bogan, Ceitidh Ainsworth, Sky Phimister and Aicha Sutcliffe.

Sarah Murdoch and Maia MacDonald join their Bridgehaugh club-mates in the Glasgow setup, as does former Scotland winger Abi Evans after impressing following her move to Stirling County from Saracens.

Evans’ former Scotland team-mate, Lisa Martin, is also included, the fly-half/centre bringing over 50 caps of international experience to the Warriors for the 2024/25 season.

Scotland U18 standout Poppy Mellanby is the youngest member of the squad, the fly-half joining Biggar squad-mate Poppy Clarkson in the 30-strong squad.

About the Celtic Challenge

Celtic Challenge Tickets

The Celtic Challenge is the first Women’s domestic Cross-Border Competition. The League is played between 6 Teams across 3 nations over 10 rounds. At the end of the season, the team with the highest table standing will be crowned Champions.

The League is designed to develop and inspire World Class performance through elite Competition, it is the highest form of domestic rugby across Wales, Scotland, and Ireland and acts as a pathway for current and future International Talent.

All Celtic Challenge fixtures will be streamed live in the UK on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. In addition to the live broadcasts, the BBC’s coverage across platforms will include results, news stories, analysis, and highlights of key moments throughout the season.  In addition, RugbyPass TV will broadcast one featured match per round of the Celtic Challenge, giving supporters around the world free access to the league’s most compelling fixtures.

Celtic Challenge Fixtures