With the expansion of the Celtic Challenge for the 2023/24 season seeing Scotland, Ireland and Wales contribute two teams apiece for the first time, Glasgow Warriors made their debut in the competition on Saturday 30 December 2023, running out to take on Edinburgh at Hive Stadium.
Chris Laidlaw was named as the squad’s inaugural Head Coach, the former Scotland Club XV and Boroughmuir fly-half also serving as one of Scottish Rugby’s three Performance Development coaches for the women’s and girls Regional Training Centres.
Former Scotland prop Lindsey Smith was appointed as Forwards Coach, with Glasgow Warriors and Scotland hooker Fraser Brown looking after defence.
A third former Scotland international, Megan Kennedy, and Stuart Lewis were appointed as Assistant Coaches, working with the club across the Celtic Challenge.
The team for the club’s first-ever fixture in the Celtic Challenge (listed from 1-23) can be found below.
Glasgow Warriors: Ailie Tucker, Nikki Simpson, Eilidh Fleming, Emma Turner (CC), Louise McMillan, Holland Bogan, Izzy Hannay, Lucy Winter; Rhea Clarke (CC), Ceitidh Ainsworth, Roma Fraser, Lucy MacRae, Claudia McLaren, Sky Phimister, Izzy McGuire-Evans.
Replacements: Karis Craig, Kaylee Fraser, Debbie Lee, Sophie Anderson, Eve Thomson, Mairi McDonald, Carla McDonald, Pearl Kellie.
Second Season
The 2024/25 season saw the Celtic Challenge expand once more, with home and away matches against each opponent to expand the fixture calendar to a total of 10 matches.
Lindsey Smith was appointed as the club’s Head Coach, with Ailie Tucker – GWW #1 – named as the club’s captain for the upcoming campaign.
The season saw the club earn its first-ever win in the Celtic Challenge, running in six tries to claim a 36-17 win over Edinburgh at Scotstoun.
The team (listed from 1-23) that day was as follows:
Glasgow Warriors: Ailie Tucker (C), Aicha Sutcliffe, Katie Lindsay, Holland Bogan, Kate Yeomans, Freya Walker, Gemma Bell, Emily Coubrough; Mairi McDonald, Ceitidh Ainsworth, Emily Norval, Briar McNamara, Orla Proctor, Abi Evans, Poppy Mellanby.
Replacements: Megan Hyland, Poppy Fletcher, Eilidh Fleming, Aisha Zameer, Eilidh MacGilvray, Rianna Darroch, Lisa Martin, Millie Warren.
Tries: Bell, McDonald, Yeomans, Evans, Norval, McNamara
Conversions: McNamara (3)
