Glasgow Warriors Women

Glasgow Warriors Women
Full nameGlasgow Warriors Women
UnionScottish Rugby Union
Founded2023
LocationGlasgow, Scotland
Ground(s)Scotstoun Stadium (Capacity: 7,351[1] using additional temporary seating)
Coach(es)Chris Laidlaw
League(s)Celtic Challenge
Team kit
Official website
glasgowwarriors.org
Current season

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

History

Glasgow Warriors Women was formed in December 2023 by Glasgow Warriors and the Scottish Rugby Union to play in the Celtic Challenge,[2][3] 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.[3]

The 2023–24 season saw Glasgow trail in the Celtic Challenge league picking up only 1 league point from their 7 matches. The point came in the last play-off rounds.

For the 2024–25 season, Lindsey Smith was promoted from Assistant Coach to Head Coach with Chris Laidlaw stepping down.[4]

Stadium

Glasgow Warriors women's side play their home matches at Scotstoun Stadium.

Records and achievements

Season standings

Celtic Challenge
Season Pos Pld W D L F A +/- BP Pts Notes
2023-24 6th 7 0 0 7 87 222 -135 1 1

Current standings

Main article: 2024–25 Celtic Challenge
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 Scotland Edinburgh Rugby 2 2 0 0 85 32 +53 14 5 2 0 10
2 Ireland Wolfhounds 3 2 0 1 91 45 +46 15 7 2 0 10
3 Ireland Clovers 3 2 0 1 67 50 +17 11 8 2 0 10
4 Wales Gwalia Lightning 3 2 0 1 59 51 +8 8 9 1 0 9
5 Wales Brython Thunder 3 0 0 3 39 74 −35 7 11 1 1 2
6 Scotland Glasgow Warriors 2 0 0 2 22 111 −89 3 18 0 0 0
Source: celticrugbycomp.com
Rules for classification: Four points for a win, two points for a tie. One bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match; one bonus point for losing by a margin of seven or less.

Coaches

Lindsey Smith was named as the new Head Coach in November 2024.[5]

Name Position
Scotland Lindsey Smith Head coach
Scotland Megan Kennedy Assistant coach
Scotland Stuart Lewis Assistant coach
Scotland Forwards Coach
Scotland Fraser Brown Defence Coach

Current squad

The squad for the 2023–24 Season was announced on 19 December 2023.[6]

On 28 December 2023, Emma Turner and Rhea Clarke were named as co-captains.[7] Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Karis Craig[a] Hooker Scotland Scotland
Nikki Simpson[a] Hooker Scotland Scotland
Chloe Brown Prop Scotland Scotland
Eilidh Fleming[a] Prop Scotland Scotland
Kaylee Fraser Prop Scotland Scotland
Debbie Lee Prop Scotland Scotland
Hannah McMahon Prop Scotland Scotland
Ailie Tucker Prop Scotland Scotland
Holland Bogan[a] Second row Scotland Scotland
Eve Thomson[a] Second row Scotland Scotland
Ellie Williamson[a] Second row Scotland Scotland
Sophie Anderson Back row Scotland Scotland
Megan Hyland[a] Back row Scotland Scotland
Alex Love Back row Scotland Scotland
Alison Orr Back row Scotland Scotland
Kirsty Ritchie[a] Back row Scotland Scotland
Emma Turner (cc) Back row Scotland Scotland
Lucy Winter Back row Scotland Scotland
Player Position Union
Rhea Clarke[a] (cc) Scrum-half Scotland Scotland
Rebekah Douglas[a] Scrum-half Scotland Scotland
Ceitidh Ainsworth[a] Fly-half Scotland Scotland
Carla McDonald[a] Fly-half Scotland Scotland
Pearl Kellie Centre Scotland Scotland
Lucy MacRae[a] Centre Scotland Scotland
Claudia McLaren Centre Scotland Scotland
Charlotte Burrows[a] Wing Scotland Scotland
Roma Fraser[a] Wing Scotland Scotland
Pheadra Snailham Wing Scotland Scotland
Beth Tobin Wing Scotland Scotland
Sky Phimister[a] Fullback Scotland Scotland

Transitional players

On 27 December 2023, Scottish Rugby announced 11 transitional players that could play for either Scottish Celtic challenge team.[8] 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.[8]

Name Position Club
Izzy Hannay Flanker England Harlequins
Gemma Bell Flanker England Gloucester-Hartpury
Evie Addy Prop England Gloucester-Hartpury
Nicole Marlow Fly Half Wales Cardiff Metropolitan University
Leia Brebner-Holden Scrum Half England Gloucester-Hartpury
Izzy McGuire-Evans Centre England Sale Sharks
Orla Proctor Full Back England Leicester Tigers
Nicola Haynes Hooker England Saracens
Demi Swann Prop England Exeter Chiefs
Fiona McIntosh Lock England Saracens
Panashe Muzambe Prop England Exeter Chiefs

International players

International players released to play for Glasgow Warriors in the Celtic Challenge league.[9]

Name Position Club
Louise McMillan Lock England Saracens
Mairi McDonald Scrum Half England Exeter Chiefs
Beth Blacklock Centre England Saracens
Coreen Grant Wing England Saracens

Squad additions

Other players added to the original squad.

Name Position Club
Priya Crawford Scrum Half Scotland Strathclyde University
Gisele Chicot Centre Scotland Heriots Blues
Kiyomi Honjigawa Full Back Scotland Corstorphine Cougars

Notable former coaches & management

Former Head coaches

Coach Period(s)
Scotland Chris Laidlaw 2023 – 11/2024

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ "Glasgow Warriors vs Leicester Tigers". glasgowwarriors.org. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Glasgow Warriors to compete in Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 5 December 2023. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ https://celticrugbycomp.com/2024/11/15/smith-named-head-coach-for-glasgow-warriors/
  5. ^ https://celticrugbycomp.com/teams/glasgow-warriors/
  6. ^ "Glasgow Warriors confirm core squad for Celtic Challenge". Glasgow Warriors. 19 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Team named for Celtic Challenge debut". 29 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.