The excitement is mounting across three nations. The Celtic Challenge starts anew on 20 December. The one big gap as a third campaign gets under way is a national selection committee for the two Welsh franchises, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning. There’ll be two established sets of coaches in place observing, and no doubt other
Today’s three games showed the PWR up in its best light. There was competition everywhere, even if the winners were well ahead at the end. The lowest losing total was 22, twice over. Results Trailfinders 22 Chiefs 41 Gloucester-Hartpury 47 Saracens 31 Loughborough Lightning 22 Quins 40 Trailfinders v Exeter Chiefs Prelims It’s a pity
The Six Squads The full squads are listed below. The third edition of the competition has an extra edge. In addition to the search for the Celtic crown, players have the chance of gaining a coveted place in a national World Cup squad. That may explain the presence of so many who might have been
Harlequins Head Coach Ross Chisholm has named his side for the trip to Cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, in Quins’ final away fixture of the year. The front-row is unchanged with Italy’s Silvia Turani at loosehead Prop. Connie Powell is in at hooker and will be looking to continue her try scoring, benefitting from Quins’
Head coach Nathan Smith makes two changes to the Loughborough Lightning starting line-up for this weekend’s clash with Harlequins (kick-off: 3.05pm). Francesca Goldthorp returns after injury ruled her out of the loss Gloucester-Hartpury to slot back in at fullback and USA international Hallie Taufoou packs down at blindside flanker at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.
Fixtures Saturday 14 December Trailfinders v Chiefs, KO 12.00 Gloucester-Hartpury v Saracens KO 14.00 Loughborough Lightning v Quins KO 15.05 Sunday 15 December Bristol Bears v Sale Sharks KO 14.00 Leicester Tigers have the day off It’s a pity that three of the four matches bring top five sides up against bottom four. This makes
The Olympic Gold medal winning Black Ferns Sevens have swept the ASB Rugby Awards in 2024, claiming adidas New Zealand Team of the Year, Cory Sweeney the ASB New Zealand Coach of the Year and Jorja Miller receiving the prestigious Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year title. Miller is the second-youngest recipient of
12 December 2024 – The RFU has announced its list of contracted players for 2024-25. They number 32, with eight more being offered the now familiar transitional contracts: Holly Aitchison Zoe Aldcroft Lark Atkin-Davies Sarah Beckett Sarah Bern Hannah Botterman Jess Breach Mackenzie Carson Kelsey Clifford Amy Cokayne Liz Crake* Abby Dow Maddie Feaunati* Rosie Galligan Zoe
At last we have a few details of the PWR board’s plans for the future. They will be announced in the New Year, which means either they are not complete, or need a little polishing, or the board enjoys a bit of suspense. Certainly the matters they will touch on are complicated beyond belief. When
16 December: a special evening in Bordeaux, entitled “Les Étoiles du Rugby Féminin”, will recognise the achievements of women in rugby. Nine separate awards for players, coaches, referees and clubs are on offer. This is a bright new initiative from the FFR. With, without The USA Eagles 7s squad took silver at the Cape Town
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