Current season, competition or edition: 2023–24 Celtic Challenge | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| No. of teams | 6 |
| Country |  Ireland Wales Scotland |
| Most recent champion(s) | Wolfhounds (1st title) |
| Most titles | Combined Provinces XV Wolfhounds (one title) |
| Official website | https://celticrugbycomp.com/ |
The Celtic Challenge is a cross-border women's rugby union competition that will be held annually, launched in 2023. Designed to develop players for the Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the inaugural pilot edition featured a double round robin between three teams, one from each participating union. From 2024 the competition will involve six teams, two from each participating union.[1][2] Beginning with the 2024–25 season, the competition will maintain its six-team setup, transitioning into a full home-and-away round-robin format. The winners will be determined by standings at the end of the season.[3]
The three participating unions fund the competition, with further development funding from World Rugby.
- ^ Barnes, David (21 December 2022). "Celtic Challenge to provide high-performance opportunities ahead of TikTok Six Nations". The Offside Line. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Reid, Alasdair (20 November 2023). "Young 'Thistles' set for new women's rugby challenge as Celtic Challenge announced". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Edinburgh & Glasgow return for expanded Celtic Challenge". BBC Sport. 1 May 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.