Seven changes for Gwalia Lightning trip
20 Feb 2026Glasgow Warriors Women Head Coach Lindsey Smith has made seven changes to the starting line-up this Saturday’s match against Gwalia Lightning (21 February, kick-off 1pm) – live on BBC Sport.
The eighth round of the Celtic Challenge sees Glasgow Warriors travel to Ystrad Mynach to face Gwalia Lightning, with the Welsh side currently sitting third on the competition table.
Smith has made three personnel changes, as Poppy Fletcher, Sophie Murphy and Rebekah Douglas all join the starting line-up.
There are also four positional changes, with Aicha Sutcliffe moving to hooker, Millie Warren switching to full-back and Briar McNamara and Claudia McLaren moving to inside and outside centre respectively.
Fletcher and Sutcliffe reunite with Katie Lindsay in the front-row, while Holland Bogan links-up with Murphy in the second-row.
An unchanged back-row sees Gemma Thomson and Eilidh MacGilvray start on the flanks, with Emily Coubrough continuing as number eight.
Rianna Darroch and Ceitidh Ainsworth retain their half-back partnership, with McNamara and McLaren combining in the centres.
The back-three sees Emily Norval line-up on the wings alongside Douglas, with Warren starting at full-back.
Speaking ahead of the match, Smith said: “It has been a short six-day turnaround so our focus has been on ensuring we had a good recovery period at the start of the week before working on some key areas in training such as the contact area again.
“We know that Gwalia Lightning have been on good form throughout the competition and will throw everything at us, but we know what to expect and we’ll look to match their physicality and challenge on Saturday.”
Glasgow Warriors Women team to face Gwalia Lightning in the Celtic Challenge at Ystrad Mynach (Saturday 21 February, kick-off 1pm)
1 Poppy Fletcher
2. Aicha Sutcliffe
3. Katie Lindsay
4. Holland Bogan (co-captain)
5. Sophie Murphy
6. Gemma Thomson
7. Eilidh MacGilvray
8. Emily Coubrough
9. Rianna Darroch
10. Ceitidh Ainsworth (co-captain)
11. Emily Norval
12. Briar McNamara
13. Claudia McLaren
14. Rebekah Douglas
15. Millie Warren
Replacements
16. Megan Hyland
17. Freya Gracie
18. Imogen Spence
19. Aisha Zameer
20. Freya Walker
21. Shelley Main
22. Hannah Dunnett
23. Robynn Gibson
