Clovers & Wolfhounds Squads And Coaching Teams Announced For Celtic Challenge
India Daley, Dannah O'Brien, Maeve Óg O'Leary, and Méabh Deely will be part of this season's Celltic Challenge competition ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce that Denis Fogarty and Neill Alcorn will return as head coaches for the upcoming Celtic Challenge competition.
The Celtic Challenge returns for the fourth year, with knockout rugby introduced for the first time. The league will kick off on Saturday week (December 20), with the traditional 10-round league season.
It will culminate in a high stakes semi-final stage and inaugural Celtic Challenge final. Fogarty and Alcorn have been reappointed in their head coach roles for the Clovers and Wolfhounds respectively.
Fogarty will lead the Clovers selection, with Niamh Briggs, the former Ireland international and current Women’s National Talent Coach for Munster, and former Ireland prop Leah Lyons the assistant coaches.
The Wolfhounds retained the Celtic Challenge title last season, finishing two points clear of fellow Irish side, the Clovers ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
While Alcorn will be the head coach of the Wolfhounds squad again, he will be assisted by current Leinster Women’s head coach Ben Martin, who has returned along with Matt Gill, National Talent Coach for Leinster.
Speaking about the return of the Celtic Challenge, the IRFU’s Head of Performance & Pathways, Gillian McDarby, said: “Following the Rugby World Cup, there is great excitement about the Women’s game, and the Celtic Challenge now offers a fantastic opportunity for younger players to stake a claim ahead of the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations.
“Our pathways continue to develop with increased investment. and we are looking forward to seeing how youth can blend with experience in this season’s competition.”
Clovers Squad
Forwards: Jemima Adams Verling (Connacht), Ella Burns (Connacht), Beth Buttimer (Munster), Eilís Cahill (Munster), Ruth Campbell (Leinster), Jane Clohessy (Munster), Saoirse Crowe (Munster), Sally Kelly (Munster), Ivana Kiripati (Connacht), Siobhán McCarthy (Munster), Aoibheann McGrath (Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Ulster), Lily Morris (Munster), Aoibhe O’Flynn (Munster), Faith Oviawe (Connacht), Ailish Quinn (Connacht), Rosie Searle (Leinster).
Backs: Enya Breen (Munster), Aoife Corey (Munster), Amee-Leigh Costigan (Munster), Méabh Deely (Connacht), Caitríona Finn (Munster), Kate Flannery (Munster), Síofra Hession (Connacht), Emily Lane (Munster), Lucia Linn (Munster), Anna McGann (Connacht), Alana McInerney (Munster), Niamh Murphy (Leinster), Béibhinn Parsons (Connacht), Eve Prendergast (Munster).
Wolfhounds Squad
Forwards: Alma Atagamen (Leinster), Kathy Baker (Leinster), Sophie Barrett (Ulster), Claire Boles (Ulster), Regan Casey (IQ Rugby), Maebh Clenaghan (Ulster), India Daley (Ulster), Linda Djougang (Leinster), Poppy Garvey (Connacht), Christy Haney (Leinster), Kate Jordan (Leinster), Cara McLean (Ulster), Caoimhe Molloy (Leinster), Maeve Óg O’Leary (Munster), Naoise Smyth (Leinster), Fiona Tuite (Ulster).
Backs: Megan Burns (Leinster), Katie Corrigan (Leinster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Leinster), Stacey Flood (Leinster), Jade Gaffney (Leinster), Eve Higgins (Leinster), Amy Larn (Leinster), Niamh Marley (Ulster), Kate Farrell McCabe (Ulster), Dannah O’Brien (Leinster), Robyn O’Connor (Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Connacht), Katie Whelan (Leinster).
The opening round sees a double header at Energia Park on Saturday, December 20, with the Clovers opening their campaign against Gwalia Lightning at 11.30am before the Wolfhounds take on Edinburgh Rugby at 2.30pm.
Full fixtures can be found here: https://celticrugbycomp.com/fixtures-results/.