Glasgow Warriors announce first players for 2025/26 Celtic Challenge

As part of Scottish Rugby’s approach for the 2025/26 season, the players will be supported through a centralised programme based at Oriam High Performance Centre, with the players involved having been training together since September. 

We’re just getting started ⚔️🛡️

Tickets to all of our home Celtic Challenge fixtures are on sale now 🎟️ https://t.co/Ne9nMOAE0T pic.twitter.com/TEyv5nVOCV

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) October 29, 2025

All bar one of the first cohort of players aligned to Glasgow Warriors have represented the club in previous Celtic Challenge campaigns, with Biggar RFC’s Imogen Spence – who co-captained Scotland U18 at the U18 Six Nations Festival in England earlier this year – the only new addition to the setup. 

The Warriors are able to call upon both of last season’s co-captains as part of their initial squad intake, as Ceitidh Ainsworth – who led the Arnold Clark Premiership with 175 points for Stirling County after the first phase of competition – and Holland Bogan both return for their third season with the club. 

Emily Norval is included from the outset in 2025/26 after scoring on her debut in last season’s historic victory over Edinburgh, with Nicole Flynn also included after joining the Warriors midway through last season’s campaign. 

Poppy Mellanby – who became the club’s youngest-ever player in a breakout campaign in 2024/25 – and Poppy Fletcher are both included after starring for Scotland U20 in the U20 Six Nations Summer Series, the latter having served alongside Norval as one of the squad’s leaders for the tournament. 

Sky Phimister – scorer of the first try in the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge – and Emily Coubrough, who made more carries than any other Warrior last season, are also amongst the returnees, whilst Megan Hyland – selected as a hooker in 2024/25 after making her debut as a back-rower in 2023/24 – completes the initial cohort of Glasgow Warriors-aligned players. 

Speaking following the announcement, Head Coach Lindsey Smith told glasgowwarriors.org: “I’m really excited to have the first group of our players confirmed as part of the new central model.  

“It’s great to have that consistency with the group, with all bar Imogen having also represented Glasgow Warriors last season. For me, consistency is really important – a lot of these players have played U18s, U20s and Celtic Challenge together already before moving into that central programme. 

“I want to create a sense of belonging within this group and this club, and so having that consistency in the group of players coming back is so important as we look to drive this team forward. I’m excited to get going.” 

Further squad announcements will be made in due course. 

Glasgow Warriors aligned players for the 2025/26 Celtic Challenge 

Supported players 

Emily Coubrough (University of Edinburgh)
Emily Norval (Stirling County)
Holland Bogan (Stirling County)
Nicole Flynn (University of Edinburgh) 

Development players 

Ceitidh Ainsworth (Stirling County)
Imogen Spence (Biggar)
Megan Hyland (Heriots Blues)
Poppy Fletcher (University of Edinburgh)
Poppy Mellanby (University of Edinburgh)
Sky Phimister (Stirling County)