Glasgow Warriors Women team named for Celtic Challenge opener

Fresh from recently being crowned Arnold Clark Women’s Premiership champions, Stirling County duo Holland Bogan and Ceitidh Ainsworth will co-captain the side this weekend.

In the front row, Megan Hyland will pack down alongside props Freya Gracie and Imogen Spence.

Stirling County locks Bogan and Gemma Thomson will link-up in the second row, while Samaanther Taganekurukuru, Gemma Bell and Emily Coubrough make up the back row.

Rianna Darroch and Ainsworth will pull the strings at scrum-half and stand-off respectively, with Briar McNamara and Nicole Flynn chosen as the centre partnership.

Hannah Smyth and Sky Phimister will line-up on the wings, with Poppy Mellanby completing the back three at full-back.

Speaking ahead of the opening match of the season, Head Coach Smith said: “I’m looking forward to the match and I know the players are excited as well. It’s a great opener to our Celtic Challenge campaign as we finished the last season against Brython so it’s a good opportunity for us to revisit that fixture.

“We know that the Welsh sides love the contact area and will bring physicality to the contest. I think that is something we will need to match and be better than them in certain areas of the field.”

Glasgow Warriors Women team to face Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge at Parc Y Scarlets (Saturday 20 December, kick-off 12.30pm)

1 Freya Gracie
2. Megan Hyland
3. Imogen Spence
4. Holland Bogan
5. Gemma Thomson
6. Samaanther Taganekurukuru
7. Gemma Bell
8. Emily Coubrough

9. Rianna Darroch
10. Ceitidh Ainsworth
11. Hannah Smyth
12. Briar McNamara
13. Nicole Flynn
14. Sky Phimister
15. Poppy Mellanby

Replacements

16. Aicha Sutcliffe
17. Isla Gillan
18. Katie Lindsay
19. Ailsa Merryweather
20. Freya Walker
21. Rebekah Douglas
22. Claudia McLaren
23. Emily Norval