The Celtic Challenge women’s competition will start on December 5 and run through until March 27 this season.
Edinburgh Rugby finished sixth last year and Glasgow Warriors fifth to miss the play-offs, but there are much higher hopes for the Scottish teams this time around given that a number of internationalists have relocated north from the PWR and the fact that more resources are now being put into the National Academy programme by Scottish Rugby.
After a pilot year in 2022/23 when three teams were involved including the Thistles from Scotland, the six-team cross-border format – which also features three-time champions Wolfhounds and their Irish counterparts Clovers and Welsh teams Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder along with the Scots – has become well established.
This year, in the fourth ‘proper’ season of the competition, the teams will compete in a round-robin format with each side playing five home and five away fixtures over the course of the regular season.
The regular season will run from December 5 until February 28 and then the top four teams will progress to the play-offs after those 10 games.
The semis will be on March 13 and then the Celtic Challenge final moves away from a neutral venue for the first time.
The highest seed of the two semi-final winners will host the final on March 27.
Edinburgh, now coached by Louise Dalgliesh, open their campaign on the road against Clovers on December 5.
Gwalia Lightning will then visit Hive Stadium on December 12 and then Glasgow will be at the same venue on December 19.
The club then completes a run of three home games on the bounce after the festive break by hosting Wolfhounds on January 10.
A trip to Wales to face Gwalia Lightning follows on January 16 before Clovers head to the capital on January 23.
February brings a demanding finish, with three of Edinburgh’s last four fixtures on the road.
Away trips to Brython Thunder on February 6 and Wolfhounds February 13 are followed by that month’s only home outing when Brython Thunder visit on February 20.
Edinburgh’s regular season then concludes with a trip to Scotstoun on February 26 to take on Glasgow under lights.
First up for new Glasgow Warriors’ head coach Robbie Fergusson and his charges is Gwalia Lightning away on December 5.
The Wolfhounds away is next on December 12 before the derby away to Edinburgh on December 19 mentioned above.
A first run out at Scotstoun awaits on January 9 as the Warriors host Gwalia Lightning before a trip to Galway for a clash with the Clovers on January 16.
Brython Thunder then visit Glasgow on January 23.
Clovers then come to Scotstoun on February 6 before the Warriors head to Brython Thunder on February 13.
Wolfhounds at home on February 20 is followed by the Edinburgh home game mentioned above on February 26.
The full fixture list is here.
Glasgow Warriors are pictured – thanks to the club
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