Celtic Challenge
The Celtic Challenge tournament is a cross-border club competition organised by Scottish Rugby, the IRFU and WRU.
The competition provides a high-performance platform ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and aims to bridge the gap between the domestic and international women’s games in the three Celtic nations.
Scotland’s two teams are aligned to Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors.
The Celtic Challenge will return in December 2024 with an expanded 10-round format, providing some of the world’s best players from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales with an unprecedented level of preparation ahead of Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025.
The 2024/25 competition continues its expansion as the biggest and best competition yet, with a full league season of 10 rounds, and six teams playing five home and five away fixtures each, before concluding their season in March ahead of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2025. The overall winner will be determined based on league table standings at the end of the 30-game season.
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Edinburgh Rugby
Claire Cruikshank will reprise her role as the Edinburgh Rugby Women’s team Head Coach for the upcoming Celtic Challenge.
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, funded by Royal London’s Level the Playing Field programme enabled by the British and Irish Lions.
‘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.
Edinburgh Rugby Women’s squad 2024/25
Forwards
Adelle Ferrie (Corstorphine Cougars)
Aila Ronald (University of Edinburgh)*
Alex Stewart (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Alison Wilson (Heriots)
Caroline Bullock (University of Edinburgh)
Charlotte Russell (Watsonian FC)
Chloe Brown (Stirling County)
Faye Sutherland (Corstorphine Cougars)
Georgia Young (Watsonians)
Hannah McMahon (University of Edinburgh)
Karis Craig (Watsonian FC)*
Megan Riach (Garioch)
Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)*
Millie Capaldi (Heriots)
Molly Poolman (Watsonian FC)*
Natasha Logan (University of Edinburgh)*
Samaanther Taganekurukuru (Stirling County)
Talei Tawake (Watsonian FC)*Backs
Ami Conchie (Watsonian FC)
April McKenzie (Watsonian FC)
Dawn Lawrie (Watsonian FC)
Emily Love (Corstorphine Cougars)
Giselle Chicot (Watsonian FC)
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)**Scottish Rugby Women’s Academy Players
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Glasgow Warriors
Former Scotland front-rower Lindsey Smith has been appointed as Head Coach of Glasgow Warriors for the upcoming Celtic Challenge, as preparations continue for the club’s return to action.
The Inverness-born international 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.
Props
Poppy Clarkson (Biggar RFC)
Louise Downie (Ayr RFC)
Poppy Fletcher* (University of Edinburgh)
Katie Lindsay (Corstorphine Cougars)
Aillie Tucker (Watsonian FC)
Alex Ward (Garioch)Hookers
Megan Hyland* (Garioch)
Aicha Sutcliffe (Stirling County)Second-rows
Holland Bogan* (Stirling County)
Sarah Murdoch (Stirling County)
Aisha Zameer (University of Strathclyde)Back-rows
Emily Coubrough* (University of Edinburgh)
Erinn Foley* (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Maia MacDonald (Stirling County)
Eilidh MacGilvray (Highland RFC)
Freya Walker (Watsonian FC)
Kate Yeomans (Hillhead Jordanhill)Scrum-halves
Rebekah Douglas* (Corstorphine Cougars)
Mary Nelson (Watsonian FC)Fly-halves
Ceitidh Ainsworth* (Stirling County)
Carla McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Poppy Mellanby* (Biggar RFC)Centres
Lisa Martin (Corstorphine Cougars)
Briar McNamara (Watsonian FC)
Millie Warren (Hillhead Jordanhill)Back Three
Abi Evans (Stirling County)
Roma Fraser (Hillhead Jordanhill)
Erika Gladwin (Corstorphine Cougars)
Sky Phimister* (Stirling County)
Beth Tobin (Hillhead Jordanhill)* Scottish Rugby Academy Supported Player
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Transitional Players
The players have been selected through the Scottish Qualified (SQ) Programme, led by Peter Walton and Rob Brieley. Additional players who have previously been involved with Scotland Women but currently live outside of Scotland are also included in the group.
The programme is a player centred initiative designed to identify, develop and support Scottish Qualified players living outside of Scotland and provides appropriate support and opportunities to progress towards age-grade, professional and international rugby.
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Fixtures
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Tickets
Purchase tickets by clicking HERE.
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