Wikipedia

Edinburgh Rugby Women

Edinburgh Rugby Women are a select provincial rugby union side from Scotland. The team plays in the Celtic Challenge league.

Edinburgh Rugby
Full nameEdinburgh Rugby Women
UnionScottish Rugby Union
Founded2023
LocationEdinburgh, Scotland
Ground(s)Hive Stadium
(Capacity: 7,800)
Coach(es)Claire Cruikshank
League(s)Celtic Challenge
Team kit
Official website
edinburghrugby.org
Current season

History edit

Edinburgh Rugby Women was formed in December 2023 by Edinburgh Rugby and the Scottish Rugby Union to play in the Celtic Challenge,[1] 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.[1]

Stadium edit

Edinburgh Rugby women's side play their home matches at Hive Stadium.

Current standings edit

2023–24 Celtic Challenge table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1   Wolfhounds 7 6 1 0 238 130 +108 38 22 6 0 32
2   Edinburgh Rugby 7 4 2 1 160 134 +26 26 22 5 0 25
3   Clovers 7 3 1 3 142 147 −5 23 23 2 1 17
4   Gwalia Lightning 7 3 0 4 164 134 +30 20 22 3 2 17
5   Brython Thunder 7 3 0 4 113 137 −24 20 22 3 1 16
6   Glasgow Warriors 7 0 0 7 87 222 −135 13 29 0 1 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: After Round 5, the table is split in two for the final two play-off rounds.[2]

Coaches edit

The coaching team was announced on 12 December 2023.[3]

Name Position
  Claire Cruikshank Head coach
  Stuart Corsar Assistant coach
  Euan Mochrie Assistant coach
  Andrew Whitelaw Development Coach
  Ross McCann Development Coach
  Drew Scott Strength and Conditioning Coach

Current squad edit

The squad for the 2023–24 season was announced on 18 December 2023.[4] On 29 December 2023 Sarah Denholm was named as captain as part of the first game squad announcement.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Aila Ronald[a] Hooker   Scotland
Millie Whitehouse Hooker   Scotland
Katie Lindsay[a] Prop   Scotland
Poppy Fletcher[a] Prop   Scotland
Alison Wilson Prop   Scotland
Millie Capaldi Prop   Scotland
Molly Poolman Prop   Scotland
Adelle Ferrie Second row   Scotland
Lucy Kidd Second row   Scotland
Natasha Logan[a] Second row   Scotland
Rachel Cox Back row   Scotland
Merryn Gunderson Back row   Scotland
Alex Stewart[a] Back row   Scotland
Sam Taganekurukuru Back row   Scotland
Sophie Murphy Back row   Scotland
Freya Walker[a] Number 8   Scotland
Player Position Union
Ami Conchie ??   Scotland
Sarah Denholm[a] (cc) Fly-half   Scotland
April McKenzie[a] ??   Scotland
Briar McNamara Centre   Scotland
Cieron Bell[a] Wing   Scotland
Emma Orr[a] Centre   Scotland
Giselle Chicot ??   Scotland
Hannah Chrisp ??   Scotland
Hannah Ramsay ??   Scotland
Hannah Walker[a] Wing   Scotland
Mary Nelson ??   Scotland
Nicole Flynn ??   Scotland
Rachel Philipps[a] ??   Scotland
Zoe Turner ??   Scotland

Transitional players edit

On 27 December 2023, Scottish Rugby announced 11 transitional players that could play for either Scottish Celtic challenge team.[6] 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.[6]

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 edit

International players released to play for Edinburgh Rugby in the Celtic Challenge league.[7]

Name Position Club
Caity Mattinson Scrum Half   Gloucester-Hartpury
Jenny Maxwell Scrum Half  Loughborough Lightning


Notes edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Scottish Rugby Regional Training Centre supported player.

References edit

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "Irish Rugby | Clovers Progress To Top Three Play-Offs Despite Edinburgh Defeat". Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  3. ^ "CLAIRE CRUIKSHANK TO LEAD EDINBURGH RUGBY WOMEN'S TEAM". Edinburgh Rugby. 6 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Edinburgh Rugby women's squad announced". Edinburgh Rugby. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Mattinson set for Edinburgh Debut". Edinburgh Rugby. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
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