The 2025–26 Celtic Challenge was 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, however, the competition will include a single elimination play-off with semi-finals and a grand final to be held in Edinburgh.
Wolfhounds entered the competition as two–time defending champions, and successfully defended their title, beating fellow Irish side Clovers 50–29 in the competitions first grand final.
Teams and locations There have been no team changes from the 2024–25 season. Team Country Coach /Director of RugbyAffiliationBrython ThunderAshley BeckScarlets, OspreysCloversDenis FogartyMunster, ConnachtEdinburgh RugbyClaire CruikshankEdinburgh RugbyGlasgow WarriorsLindsey SmithGlasgow WarriorsGwalia LightningCatrina Nicholas-McLaughlinCardiff. Dragons RFCWolfhoundsNeill AlcornLeinster, Ulster
Table
Match grid
The following are the fixtures and results for the 2025–26 Celtic Challenge regular season:
BRYCLOEDIGLAGWAWOLBrython Thunder — 12–15 33–14 17–36 7–0 14–0Clovers 29–12 — 31–7 57–31 35–31 7-24Edinburgh Rugby 7–14 26–43 — 31–25 7-43 12–50Glasgow Warriors 10–32 31–38 17–24 — 19–31 26–42Gwalia Lightning 38–7 14–19 31–17 12–15 — 7-52Wolfhounds 69–0 43–20 34–7 52–26 44–10 — Colours: Green: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win; Blue: upcoming matches
Regular season The fixtures were announced in October 2025. The first round of fixtures will take place on 20 December 2025. All times shown are local times.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Round 5
Round 6
Round 7
Round 8
Round 9
Round 10
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. With their 52–7 victory of third-placed Gwalia Lightning in round 9, Wolfhounds ensured that both Irish franchises would have a home nation semi-final; both matches were fixed for the Dexcom Stadium, Galway, while the final will take place in a preselected venue, Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.
On 21 March both Irish franchises defeated their Welsh semi-final opposition to set up an all-Ireland final for 28 March, guaranteeing a fourth consecutive Irish champion of the Challenge. On 28 March, Wolfhounds won their third title, defeating Clovers 50 - 29.
Semi-finals
Final
Try scorers
The top try scorers in the competition were as follows:
Player Team Tries Erin King Wolfhounds 9
Discipline Red cards Player/Coach Match Law breached Result Elan Jones Wolfhounds vs. Brython Thunder(18 January 2026) 9.13 – tackle above the line of the shoulder(Red card) 3 matches Maebh Clenaghan Wolfhounds vs. Clovers(7 March 2026) 9.12 – A player must not physically or verbally abuse anyone(Red card) 3 matches
Notes
References