We now have a few details of the third season of the Celtic Challenge. It will consist of the same six teams as last year.
After a hesitant start two years ago, when teams played each other only once, the Challenge has developed promisingly, leading players forcing their way into national squads for the Six Nations. Ireland and Scotland are the two to have flourished most obviously. The performances of Brython and Gwalia will indicate how far Cymru has recovered from its latest setbacks.
This season offers “enhanced operating standards”, though they haven’t yet been spelled out. Perhaps they will include closer alignment of selection. The three nations had their own individual approaches; some teams had multiple test players aboard, others none. Alex Callender captained Brython.
And once again it was not felt necessary to present a complete programme at the first announcement, so full details of fixtures, dates, squads and coaching teams will come later.
Dates: December 2024 – January 2025
Once more the fixtures are shoehorned into the least welcoming part of the year, either side of New Year’s Day. We can only hope for favourable weather. At least they give national selectors the chance to inspect a wider choice of players to compete in Six Nations squads two months later.
The Six Clubs:
Ireland – Clovers (Connacht and Munster) and Wolfhounds (Leinster and Ulster)
Scotland – Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors
Wales – Brython Thunder (west and north Wales) and Gwalia Lightning (east Wales)
Last season the two Irish clubs proved the strongest, Wolfhounds beating Clovers in the play-offs.
Team News
Thus far, only Glasgow Warriors have confirmed their core squad of 30:
Ailie Tucker (Watsonian), Alex Love (West of Scotland), Alison Orr (Biggar), Beth Tobin (Hillhead Jordanhill), Carla McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill), Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County), Charlotte Burrows (Garioch), Chloe Brown (Stirling County), Claudia McClaren (Stirling County), Debbie Lee (Hillhead Jordanhill), Eilidh Fleming (Stirling County), Ellie Williamson (West of Scotland), Emma Turner (Corstorphine Cougars), Eve Thomson (Hillhead Jordanhill), Hannah McMahon (Edinburgh University), Holland Bogan (Stirling County), Kaylee Fraser (Corstorphine Cougars), Karis Craig (Watsonian), Kirsty Ritchie (Biggar), Lucy MacRae (Edinburgh University), Lucy Winter (Watsonian), Megan Hyland (Garioch), Nikki Simpson (Garioch), Pearl Kellie (Heriot’s Blues), Pheadra Snailham (Stewartry Sirens), Rebekah Douglas (Corstorphine Cougars), Rhea Clarke (Edinburgh University),
Roma Fraser (Hillhead Jordanhill), Sky Phimister (Stirling County), Sophie Anderson (Watsonian)
Sporting Language
It seems a pity that the announcement has to be couched in the now fashionable hyped-up language. It offers us:
“All participating teams are embracing a greater platform”. How big a platform have you embraced? And “aligning with enhanced Operating Standards that will deliver greater visibility for supporters”. Does ‘greater visibility’ mean telescopes provided?
The phrase “top-tier talent” leaves you wondering what tier international players achieve. And “the talent, strategies, and personalities that will drive this season’s excitement”? Will head coaches be revealing their strategies so openly?
