Celtic Challenge 2024/25 Head Coaches announced

The two roles have been funded by Royal London’s Level the Playing Field programme enabled by the British and Irish Lions.

Former Scotland front-rower Lindsey Smith will take charge of the Scotstoun outfit for their second campaign in the competition, having previously served as assistant coach to Chris Laidlaw – now at Harlequins – in the 2023/24 season.

Having earned 42 caps for Scotland in the front-row after making her debut against Spain in 2011, Smith takes on the role after previously serving as a Performance Development Coach for Scottish Rugby’s Regional Training Centre in Glasgow and the west, working with some of the region’s most talented young prospects.

Since hanging up her playing boots, Smith has established herself as one of Scotland’s brightest up-and-coming coaches, serving as assistant coach to the Scottish Futures squad for two seasons in addition to working as part of Laidlaw’s team at Scotstoun last season.

She currently serves as Scotland U18 Head Coach, having made the progression from assistant coach in the summer of 2024.

“I’m really proud to be taking charge of this group, and representing Glasgow Warriors,” Smith.

“To have the opportunity to be involved in coaching our first-ever women’s squad last season was something I’ll never forget, and to have the chance to step up to the Head Coach role is a massive honour. It’s a really exciting chance to build the programme here at Scotstoun and I can’t wait to get started.

“The Celtic Challenge has been huge for us, because it gives these young players a tangible next step – they can see the target in their eye-line, and that’s massive. Young players I’ve worked with can see that representing Glasgow Warriors is an achievable goal, and you can tell how much they want to be a part of this competition.

“I’m excited to get started, and help to write the next chapter in this team’s history for Glasgow Warriors.”

Claire Cruikshank steered Edinburgh to an impressive second placed finish in the team’s inaugural season, and now take on the role in a full-time basis as part of the Scottish Rugby Female Performance Pipeline.

‘Shanks’ joins from the University of Edinburgh, where she has worked as Head of Performance Ladies’ Rugby, where she has brought success for over a decade in the University game.

Claire will continue to work in a strategic oversight role with the rugby performance programme at the University of Edinburgh, further strengthening the relationship with the club partner.

A former Scotland internationalist and stalwart of the women’s game, ‘Shanks’ has international experience in a coaching capacity, both as Head Coach for the Swedish Women’s National Team and as Head Coach for Scotland U20 since 2023.

Cruikshank was also World Rugby Coaching Intern for Scotland Women and the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and coached with the national team during the recent WXV2 campaign in Cape Town.

On the appointment, Cruikshank added: “It’s a really exciting role, and I can’t wait to get started. Last season’s Celtic Challenge was amazing to be a part of, and to build on that is an opportunity I’m looking forward to immensely.

“It’s great to see so many of our players from last season doing well, with many earning international honours after playing for Edinburgh. It shows the clear pathway that is available for the girls, and one I’m excited to continue working on.”

The full coaching team and playing group for both sides will be confirmed in due course, along with the Celtic Challenge fixture details for the 2024/25 season.