The first Match in the extended Celtic Challenge 2023-24 Musgrave Park, Cork It was good to see a tight match at the start of the second Celtic Challenge. The IRFU split the four provinces more or less west and east, and this resulted in a neat evening up of historical strengths: Leinster and Munster have
Wales follow Ireland, but not Scotland, in including a leavening of established test players. They have chosen by far the most significant of names for their two teams, delving deep into Welsh history. Brython pays homage to an ancient form of the Welsh language; Gwalia is an equally time-honoiured name for the nation. Their aim
The most refreshing thing about these lists is the absence of players based in England. This is the crucial step each of the Celtic nations must take. One name stands out: Emma Orr, already a highly promising test player at the age of 20, and likely to act as a beacon of hope to the
Ireland have announced the two squads to make up the Clovers (Connacht and Munster combined) and the Wolfhounds (Leinster and Ulster combined). Each is 30 strong. They contain so many familiar names from recent 6 Nations duels and the WXV that you might think the Irish authoities are taking the competition extremely seriously. They won
The Celtic Challenge got under way last year. The good news is that the second version will see a dramatic extension in scope. The programme extends across eleven weeks from late December to 3 March; that is, to leave good time to prepare for the Six Nations. Ireland, Scotland and Wales will each provide two
Two squads have been announced in advance of the first round of the Challenge. As each of the three nations play a single game per weekend, only Wales and Scotland have already revealed their full line-ups. Claire Cruikshank, till recently in charge of Sweden’s squad, has returned to Scottish duties as head of a coaching
News coming out of Celtic lands is quite excellent. The three unions have been collaborating to launch a new competition, a ‘Celtic Challenge’. One aim is to prepare for the Six Nations, so initially it will last from mid-January to a month before the 6N starts. A more distant target is the 2025 World Cup,
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