The Celtic Challenge is back for its fourth season and is set to be the biggest and best season yet.

Welsh sides Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning compete against the Wolfhounds and Clovers of Ireland, and Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh from Scotland in a six-team tournament leading up to the 2026 Six Nations.

Now, for the first time in the tournament’s history, the season will end with a play-off and grand final.

The six teams will play 10 regular-season games – the same number as last year – with the top four sides entering a play-off.

The top two will have home semi-finals, with the title to be decided on the weekend of 29 March, the venue of which has yet to be confirmed.

The 1st place team in the table will host the 4th best, while 2nd and 3rd will face off in the second semi-final.

Defending champions Wolfhounds will open their campaign at home to Edinburgh on 20 December while Brython Thunder host Glasgow Warriors and Clovers take on Gwalia Lightning.

Rounds two and 10 will see home derbies, with the Hive hosting Edinburgh and Glasgow’s encounter on 27 December.

Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder go head-to-head at Cardiff Arms Park on the same day, moved from Lighting’s usual home of Ystrad Mynach

“Moving the first Welsh Derby in this season’s Celtic Challenge underlines the Welsh Rugby Union’s commitment to see the women’s game flourish in Wales,” Belinda Moore, the Welsh Rugby Union’s Head of Women’s Rugby, said.

“This is a great opportunity for Welsh rugby supporters to see Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder clash in what promises to be a real celebration of the women’s game in Wales.

“This classic Welsh derby will showcase a host of Welsh internationals and the exciting young talent now emerging and see them face-off against each other at Cardiff Arms Park.”

The regular season ends with the second Welsh derby, with Brython Thunder hosting Gwalia Lightning at Parc Y Scarlets.

Last season saw the two Welsh teams improve markedly, placing 3rd and 4th behind the two Irish sides.

Gwalia Lightning flew out of the blocks, winning five of their first six matches against Brython twice, Glasgow, and Edinburgh twice.

The east Wales based side suffered against the Irish sides, however, seeing their early lead eventually overtaken with a 17-48 defeat to eventual champions Wolfhounds on the penultimate weekend, and 33-55 barnstormer to Clovers at Ystrad Mynach.

By comparison, west Walian Brython played catch-up after a winless first half of the season.

A familiar feeling for fans of a regional Welsh rugby, the Thunder suffered from injuries, an issue exacerbated by a small, inexperienced squad.

They showed great character to rally strongly after heavy defeats to Wolfhounds (57-5 and 0-48) and Clovers (7-94 and 58-0) to win three of the final four matches.

Home and away bonus point wins over Glasgow Warriors ended a challenging season on a high.

Whether either side can bridge the gap to the dominant Irish teams remains to be the seen, but with the progress made in the 2024/25 season, do not bet against a strong Welsh presence in the play-off this spring!

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