Latest news with #CelticChallenge
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Ambition v realism: the balance at heart of Scotland's Murrayfield move
The growth of women's rugby in Scotland has been gathering pace in recent contracts. Glasgow and Edinburgh playing in the Celtic Challenge. The national team winning the WXV2 title. Heading to this summer's World Cup with genuine hope of reaching the knockout Scottish Rugby is seeking to capitalise on the increased exposure and interest by moving next year's Women's Six Nations match with England away from their normal home of Hive Stadium and into the big bowl at an exciting step and an ambitious one. Scotland sold out the 7,800-capacity Hive Stadium for the visit of England last year but moving to the 67,000-seater Murrayfield represents quite a leap of faith. 'We want to lay next gauntlet down' All of this is a far cry to what many players in the Scotland squad experienced when they first represented their country."My first couple of matches were at Broadwood in Cumbernauld," Scotland wing Rhona Lloyd told BBC Scotland. "We played before the under-20s men and there was hardly anybody there."It's been a massive journey over the past 30 years to get to this point and I'm so excited for this moment and then for what that will mean for the future."For Lloyd, the announcement is a reflection of all the work that has gone before and a source of real Rugby's head of women and girl's rugby, Gemma Fay, echoes that but does acknowledge that it is a bold says the initial target is to breach the capacity of the Hive. Then they will look to eclipse the crowd for the most-attended women's match ever held in Scotland, which was when the national football team played Jamaica before the 2019 World game at Hampden drew 18,555 fans and served to inspire not only those who were there, but also those running women's sport in this country."I was at that game and it was absolutely amazing," former goalkeeper Fay says. "It was a moment in time and it's almost like the gauntlet had been laid down to say, 'look what we can do in women's sport in Scotland'."We have an opportunity to better that, but we want to take everybody in women's sport in Scotland with us because this is not about us versus them. "This is about us together. And if we can then go on and lay that next gauntlet down, who knows what can happen within women's sport in Scotland." Lessons to learn from football? That day at Hampden six years ago was the springboard to the Scotland team moving all their matches to the national stadium. However, that record crowd figure proved to be the high watermark rather than a platform for sustained started to dwindle and the vast empty stands did not help create the big-game atmosphere fans crave and, crucially, did not inspire the lies the lesson for Scottish Rugby - ambition is to be embraced, but it must be grounded in a sense of realism about what is achievable, and is no suggestion at this stage of the women's national team decamping full-time to special atmosphere they have developed recently at the Hive should not be given up lightly, and moving next door to the big stadium for a one-off occasion seems like a sensible approach to test the and Glasgow have done so to good effect at Murrayfield and Hampden for their festive 1872 Cup derbies, and the hope is Scottish rugby fans will buy into this match in similar numbers."We don't want this to be a one-off," said Scotland head coach Bryan Easson. "We want to do it maybe once a season to show how far it's come."But we don't want to forget what we've got out there [at Hive Stadium]. The crowd that we've got, it is a different audience. "The Hive is a brilliant home for us and it will continue to be our home. We'll still be there, but we'll also enjoy the occasion out here [at Murrayfield] too."
BBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Wales forward Pyrs makes Gloucester switch
English champions Gloucester-Hartpury have signed Wales forward Alaw Pyrs for the forthcoming Premiership Women's Rugby 19-year-old lock made her Wales debut last September and featured in this year's Six previously played for Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge as well as Hartpury University in the British universities championship."To be an international whilst still a teenager is a remarkable achievement, and shows the potential that Alaw clearly has," Gloucester's head of rugby Dan Murphy said."She's a physical player and has impressed with Wales, Hartpury and Gwalia Lightning, so we're delighted that she's put pen to paper here."She'll learn so much from the experienced forwards we have here and get better and better, and that's what really excites us."
BBC News
02-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Tuipulotu returns in extended Wales training squad
Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu has been named in an extended Wales training squad after missing the Women's Six Nations due to a hamstring injury that required 21-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury tight-head is part of a 45-strong group named by Wales head coach Sean Lynn for this summer's tour to Australia and the 2025 Rugby World Cup in face the Wallaroos in a two Test series, beginning on 26 July in Brisbane before the second international on 1 August in squad will be trimmed to 30 players before Wales leave for Australia, with a final World Cup squad named after the bulk of the training squad includes all of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) contracted players, with Ffion Lewis, Carys Williams-Morris, Meg Webb, and Niamh Terry not selected as their contracts have faces include flanker Lucy Isaac, props Katherine Baverstock and Stella Orrin, lock Tilly Vucaj, centres Savannah Picton-Powell and Isla McMullen, scrum-half Seren Lockwood, and back rows Chiara Pearce and Jorja Aiona. Lynn said: "Our 2025 World Cup preparation starts here, and we are excited to get back together and working hard to lay some real foundations ahead of the biggest World Cup in the history of Women's rugby."We have named some young, exciting, uncapped players who have impressed at Wales Under-20s, Wales U18s and in the Celtic Challenge, and they are part of the future Wales family and have an opportunity to learn what is required at the highest level."All of them are very much in the mix for selection for the exciting challenge of a tour to Australia and ultimately the World Cup squad in England. They are here on merit and have an opportunity to prove they have what it takes for the national side."Wales became the first women's team to lose all five matches in a Six Nations tournament, finishing bottom of the pile for the second successive season."The players, coaches and staff have all had time to reflect and review what was a disappointing Six Nations campaign and we have to use that disappointment as the fuel to learn and improve for the challenges ahead of us," Lynn added."We all know we have a point to prove and that we have to put the work in on and off the field to get better as a squad."This summer training camp will be tough and demanding and we make no excuses for that."The players will be worked hard to prepare them for the honour of representing the nation and they know what is at stake." Wales squad Forwards: Abbey Constable, Abbie Fleming, Alaw Pyrs, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis, Bryonie King, Chiara Pearce, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans, Gwen Crabb, Gwenllian Pyrs, Gwennan Hopkins, Jenni Scoble, Jorja Aiono, Katherine Baverstock, Kate Williams, Kelsey Jones, Lucy Isaac, Maisie Davies, Molly Reardon, Natalia John, Rosie Carr, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Stella Orrin, Tilly Carys Cox, Catherine Richards, Courtney Keight, Hannah Bluck, Hannah Jones, Isla McMullen, Jasmine Joyce, Jenny Hesketh, Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan, Kerin Lake, Lisa Neumann, Lleucu George, Meg Davies, Nel Metcalfe, Robyn Wilkins, Savannah Picton-Powell, Seren Lockwood, Sian Jones.
RTÉ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Ben Martin named as new Leinster Women head coach
Ben Martin will take over as head coach of the Leinster Women's senior team ahead of this summer's Vodafone Interprovincial Championship, replacing the outgoing Tania Rosser. Martin represented his native Australia on the Sevens circuit during his playing career. He served as a player-coach at Kanturk in the AIL before taking over UL Bohemians Women, where he won the AIL title and picked up the 2019 Women's Coach of the Year award. He guided Blackrock College RFC's Women's team to two AIL finals, lifting the trophy in the 2022/23 campaign. Most recently, he served on Neill Alcorn's coaching ticket in the Celtic Challenge as the Wolfhounds won nine of their ten games to claim the crown. "It's an exciting time, obviously, with a Women's World Cup on the horizon," said Martin, who has Michelle Claffey and Charlie Doel as backs and forwards coaches, respectively. "There's a chance to potentially unearth some diamonds that haven't been found yet within the pathways of women's rugby. "I'm excited. It's a big challenge. There's a nice history with what's happened, especially in the recent history, with Leinster being back-to-back champions, so that puts a little bit of pressure on us." Leinster begin the defence of their Interprovincial crown against Ulster at Energia Park on 10 August. Women's Interprovincial Championship Fixtures: Round 1: Sunday, 10 August Leinster v Ulster at Energia Park (kick-off 2.30pm) Munster v Connacht at Virgin Media Park (4.15pm) Round 2: Saturday, 16 August Leinster v Munster at Energia Park (2.30pm) Connacht v Ulster at Dexcom Stadium (4.15pm) Round 3: Saturday, 23 August Connacht v Leinster at Dexcom Stadium (2.30pm) Ulster v Munster at Kingspan Stadium (4.15pm) Finals Day: Saturday, 30 August Games will be played at Energia Park.
Edinburgh Reporter
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
Caitlin at the double for upwardly mobile Cougars
Caitlin Hadley was a double winner when Corstorphine Cougars held their annual awards. The second row picked up prizes as both 'young player of the year' and 'most improved player. Other notable winners were Tanya Griffith (players player of the year) and Lua Sundqvist (2nd XV player of the year). Head coach Eric Jones summed up the team's performances this season, saying: 'I am immensely proud of our journey through the Arnold Clark Premiership season. This year has been a testament to our growth, resilience, and the unwavering commitment of everyone involved with the club. 'We began with a clear objective: to build upon the foundations laid in previous years and to challenge for the Premiership title. Our squad, bolstered by the experience of former Scotland captain Lisa Martin, brought a new level of tactical acumen to our game . 'Throughout, our performances were marked by a blend of strategic kicking, robust defence, and cohesive teamwork. Lisa Martin's precision from the tee was instrumental, contributing significantly to our points tally and often providing the edge in closely contested matches. 'Several of our players received national recognition, reflecting the strength of our development pathways. Alex Stewart's performances earned her a call-up to the Scotland squad again and Adelle Ferrie was also capped. 'Our contribution to the Edinburgh Rugby women's squad and Glasgow Warriors squad for the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge was significant agai 'Off the field, the club has embarked on ambitious development plans, including the renovation of our facilities at Union Park. With support from Scottish Rugby's Growth and Participation Fund, we're enhancing our infrastructure to better support our players and the wider community . 'As we reflect on this season, it's clear that the Corstorphine Cougars are on an upward trajectory. The dedication of our players and the commitment of our coaching staff have all contributed to a memorable year. We're excited for what the future holds with a number of young players coming to Union Park.' Like this: Like Related
