Glasgow Warriors Women
| Full name | Glasgow Warriors Women | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Scottish Rugby Union | |
| Founded | 2023 | |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Ground | Scotstoun Stadium (Capacity: 7,351[1] using additional temporary seating) | |
| Coach | Lindsey Smith | |
| League | Celtic Challenge | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| glasgowwarriors | ||
| Current season | ||
Glasgow Warriors Women are a select provincial rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the Celtic Challenge league.
History
Glasgow Warriors Women was formed in December 2023 by Glasgow Warriors and the Scottish Rugby Union to play in the Celtic Challenge,[2][3] a cross-border women's rugby union competition that will be held annually. The competition was launched in 2023 and is designed to develop players for the Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[3]
The 2023–24 season saw Glasgow trail in the Celtic Challenge league picking up only 1 league point from their 7 matches. The point came in the last play-off rounds.
For the 2024–25 season, Lindsey Smith was promoted from Assistant Coach to Head Coach with Chris Laidlaw stepping down.[4] A better season than last, the team picked up one win and one draw. They nonetheless finished bottom of the table once more.
Stadium
Glasgow Warriors women's side play their home matches at Scotstoun Stadium.
Records and achievements
Season standings
| Celtic Challenge |
Season Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Notes 2023-24 6th 7 0 0 7 87 222 -135 1 1 2024-25 6th 10 1 1 8 182 362 -180 4 10
Current standings
| 2025–26 Celtic Challenge | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Ireland Wales Scotland |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Official website | |
| celticrugbycomp | |
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, however, the competition will include a single elimination play-off with semi-finals and a grand final.[5][6]
Wolfhounds enter the competition as two–time defending champions.
Teams and locations
There have been no team changes from the 2024–25 season.
| Team | Country | Coach / Director of Rugby |
|---|---|---|
| Brython Thunder | Wales | |
| Clovers | Ireland | |
| Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland | |
| Glasgow Warriors | Scotland | |
| Gwalia Lightning | Wales | |
| Wolfhounds | Ireland |
Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolfhounds | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | +27 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | Play-offs |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 17 | +19 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | Clovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 31 | +4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | |
| 4 | Gwalia Lightning | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 35 | −4 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | Brython Thunder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 36 | −19 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Edinburgh Rugby | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 34 | −27 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 fixtures were announced in October 2025.[8] The first round of fixtures will take place on 20 December 2025.[5] All times shown are local times.
Round 1
| 20 December 2025 11:30 |
| (1 BP) Clovers | 35 – 31 | Gwalia Lightning (2 BP) |
| Try: Sadhbh McGrath (2) Niamh Murphy Jemima Adams Verling Aoibheann McGrath Con: Caitríona Finn (5) Cards: Caoimhe Murphy 79' | Report | Try: Evie Hill Courtney Greenway Maisie Davies (2) Tilly Vucaj Con: Carys Hughes (3) |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Dermot Blake |
| 20 December 2025 12:30 |
| Brython Thunder | 17 – 36 | Glasgow Warriors (1 BP) |
| Try: Ellie Tromans Hanna Marshall Jess Rogers Con: Marshall | Report | Try: Sky Phimister (2) Hannah Smyth (2) Poppy Mellanby Holland Bogan Con: Rianna Darroch (3) |
| Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli |
| 20 December 2025 14:30 |
| (1 BP) Wolfhounds | 34 – 7 | Edinburgh Rugby |
| Try: Sophie Barrett (2) India Daley Maggie Boylan Eve Higgins Linda Djougang Con: Dannah O’Brien (2) | Report | Try: Cat Moody Con: Lucy MacRae Cards: Scarlett Haddow 59' |
| Donnybrook Stadium, Dublin Referee: Padraic Reidy |
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.
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 20/21/22 March 2026 – TBC | ||||||
| First in standings | ||||||
| 27/28/29 March 2026 – TBC | ||||||
| Fourth in standings | ||||||
| Winner SF1 | ||||||
| 20/21/22 March 2026 – TBC | ||||||
| Winner SF2 | ||||||
| Second in standings | ||||||
| Third in standings | ||||||
Semi-finals
| 20/21/22 March 2026 |
| 1st in regular season | v | 4th in regular season |
| 20/21/22 March 2026 |
| 2nd in regular season | v | 3rd in regular season |
Final
| 27/28/29 March 2026 |
| Winner of semi-final 1 | v | Winner of semi-final 2 |
Notes
References
- ^ "Glasgow Warriors vs Leicester Tigers". glasgowwarriors.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ "Glasgow Warriors to compete in Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Edinburgh & Glasgow launch women's teams". BBC Sport. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ https://celticrugbycomp.com/2024/11/15/smith-named-head-coach-for-glasgow-warriors/
- ^ a b "New Look Celtic Challenge Finals Reflect Rising Women's Rugby World Cup Influence - Celtic Challenge". 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "2025-26 Celtic Challenge to feature knockout rugby as competition revamped". BBC Sport. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Table". Celtic Challenge. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
- ^ "Celtic Challenge Unveils Fixtures for the 2025/26 Season". Celtic Challenge. 22 October 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
Coaches
Lindsey Smith was named as the new Head Coach in November 2024.[1]
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Lindsey Smith | Head coach |
| Megan Kennedy | Assistant coach |
| Stuart Lewis | Assistant coach |
| Forwards Coach | |
| Fraser Brown | Defence Coach |
Current squad
The squad for the 2023–24 Season was announced on 19 December 2023.[2]
On 28 December 2023, Emma Turner and Rhea Clarke were named as co-captains.[3] Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
Transitional players
On 27 December 2023, Scottish Rugby announced 11 transitional players that could play for either Scottish Celtic challenge team.[4] Transitional players were selected through a Scottish qualified programme, a programme to develop and support Scottish qualified players living outside of Scotland, as well as players who have previously been involved with Scotland but currently live outside of Scotland.[4]
| Name | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Izzy Hannay | Flanker | Harlequins |
| Gemma Bell | Flanker | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Evie Addy | Prop | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Nicole Marlow | Fly Half | Cardiff Metropolitan University |
| Leia Brebner-Holden | Scrum Half | Gloucester-Hartpury |
| Izzy McGuire-Evans | Centre | Sale Sharks |
| Orla Proctor | Full Back | Leicester Tigers |
| Nicola Haynes | Hooker | Saracens |
| Demi Swann | Prop | Exeter Chiefs |
| Fiona McIntosh | Lock | Saracens |
| Panashe Muzambe | Prop | Exeter Chiefs |
International players
International players released to play for Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge league.[5]
| Name | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Louise McMillan | Lock | Saracens |
| Mairi McDonald | Scrum Half | Exeter Chiefs |
| Beth Blacklock | Centre | Saracens |
| Coreen Grant | Wing | Saracens |
Squad additions
Other players added to the original squad.
| Name | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Priya Crawford | Scrum Half | Strathclyde University |
| Gisele Chicot | Centre | Heriots Blues |
| Kiyomi Honjigawa | Full Back | Corstorphine Cougars |
Notable former coaches & management
Former Head coaches
| Coach | Period(s) |
|---|---|
| Chris Laidlaw | 2023 – 11/2024 |
End of season awards
The Player's Player of the Season award is in memory of Siobhan Cattigan.
2023 - 24 season
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Coaches Player of the Season | Holland Bogan |
| Player's Player of the Season | Ailie Tucker |
2024 - 25 season
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Coaches Player of the Season | Ceitidh Ainsworth |
| Player's Player of the Season | Freya Walker |
Notes
References
- ^ https://celticrugbycomp.com/teams/glasgow-warriors/
- ^ "Glasgow Warriors confirm core squad for Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Turner and Clarke named co-captains for Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Scottish Rugby names Transitional Players available for Celtic Challenge selection". Scottish Rugby. 27 December 2023. Archived from the original on 28 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Team named for Celtic Challenge debut". 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.