2025–26 Celtic Challenge

2025–26 Celtic Challenge
Countries Ireland
Wales
Scotland
Number of teams6
Matches played0/33
Official website
celticrugbycomp.com

The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge will be the fourth season of the Celtic Challenge, a cross-border women's rugby union competition with teams from Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. The six team tournament features a full double round robin fixture series, with each team playing the others both home and away. For the first time, the competition will include a finals series with semi-finals and a grand final[1][2].

Wolfhounds return as two time defending champions.

Teams and locations

There have been no team or location changes from the 2024-25 season.

Team Country Coach /
Director of Rugby 		Stadium Location Capacity
Brython Thunder Wales Parc y Scarlets Llanelli 14,870
Eirias Stadium Colwyn Bay 6,080
Clovers Ireland Donnybrook Stadium Dublin 6,000
Musgrave Park Cork 8,008
Edinburgh Rugby Scotland Edinburgh Rugby Stadium Edinburgh 7,800
Glasgow Warriors Scotland Scotstoun Stadium Glasgow 9,708
Gwalia Lightning Wales Cardiff Arms Park Cardiff 12,125
Wolfhounds Ireland 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 Wales Brython Thunder 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 qualifies for home semi-final
2 Ireland Clovers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Scotland Edinburgh Rugby 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 qualifies for semi-final
4 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Wales Gwalia Lightning 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Ireland 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.

Regular season

The full fixtures will be announced after the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. The first round of fixtures will take place on 20 December 2025[3].

Round 1

20 December 2025 v  


20 December 2025 v  


20 December 2025 v  

Round 2

v  


v  


v  

Round 3

v  


v  


v  

Round 4

v  


v  


v  

Round 5

v  


v  


v  

Round 6

v  


v  


v  

Round 7

v  


v  


v  

Round 8

v  


v  


v  

Round 9

v  


v  


v  

Round 10

v  


v  


v  

Play-offs

For the first time, the Celtic Challenge will have play-offs to crown a champion, with the top four teams in the regular season advancing to semi-finals, followed by a grand final.

Play-off bracket
 
Semi-finalsGrand Final
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semi-finals

1st in regular season v 4th in regular season  


2nd in regular season v 3rd in regular season  

Grand final

Winner of semi-final 1 v Winner of semi-final 2  

Notes

References

  1. ^ Challenge, Celtic (13 August 2025). "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ "2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby as competition revamped". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ Challenge, Celtic (13 August 2025). "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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