A wave of new Scottish and Welsh caps are set to drive the standard of the Celtic Challenge, as the highest seeded team prepares to host the Final for the first time.
The Celtic Challenge has today announced the full fixture list for the 2026/27 season, its fourth year as the ultimate cross-border club competition for women’s rugby across Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; and one that arrives with more international quality across the six clubs than ever before.
Brython Thunder, Gwalia Lightning, Edinburgh Rugby, Glasgow Warriors, the Clovers, and the Wolfhounds will once again compete in a full double round-robin format, with each side playing 5 home and 5 away fixtures over the course of the regular season, before the top four seeded teams progress to the play-offs.
The competition returns off the back of a summer that has seen Celtic Challenge players at the heart of the Scotland, Wales, and Ireland set-ups alike.
Wales’ influence has been just as visible, Brython Thunder trio Amy Williams, Shanelle Williams, and Elan Jones all won their first senior caps this September, while Gwalia Lightning’s Freya Bell and Bryonie King started against South Africa in the Vodafone Wales WXV Series.
For 2026/27, the Celtic Challenge Final moves away from a neutral venue for the first time, with the highest seed of the two semi-final winners now hosting instead. It’s a big incentive at a time when squads are being bolstered with international talent right across the board, and it means the race for the top four is set to be as relentless as it’s ever been.
The season will open on Saturday 5th December 2026 and conclude with the Final on the weekend of 27th March 2027. On opening day Gwalia Lightning will entertain Glasgow Warriors at Ystrad Mynach while Brython Thunder travel to Belfast to play Wolfhounds.
Round 1 serves up a rematch of last season’s semi-final, as Wolfhounds host Brython Thunder in Belfast; Thunder will arrive with a stronger hand than last time out, with a clutch of Welsh internationals now back in the fold.
CELTIC CHALLENGE FIXTURES
To purchase any Gwalia Lightning game tickets at Ystrad Mynach, please click here.
Gwalia Lightning v Glasgow Warriors
05/12/26, KO: 12:00
Gwalia Lightning v Brython Thunder
19/12/26, KO: 14:30
Gwalia Lightning v Edinburgh Rugby
16/01/27, KO: 12:00
Gwalia Lightning v Wolfhounds
06/02/27, KO: 13:00
Gwalia Lightning v Clovers
13/02/27, KO: 13:00
