Celtic Challenge 2025/26 Round 10: Irish and Welsh teams remain for semi-finals

Just like that the 2025/26 Celtic Challenge’s regular season is over.

At the conclusion of Round 10 only Wolfhounds, Clovers, Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder remain in the competition as Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby have been cast aside and will not take part in knockout competition.

Semi-final matches will take place on Saturday 21 March at Connacht’s Dexcom Stadium, where a place at the first-ever Celtic Challenge final at Hive Stadium is on offer.

Here is how things played out in Round 10 of the 2025/26 Celtic Challenge season…

Glasgow Warriors 17-22 Edinburgh Rugby

A last-gasp try from Edinburgh Rugby’s Kaylee Fraser dealt a double blow for Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.

The result not only consigned Warriors to defeat at home, but meant that Lindsey Smith’s team have missed out on knockout rugby.

It was Edinburgh that had the half-time lead thanks to unconverted Hannah Walker and Bethan Mathieson efforts.

After the break Warriors came out flying and got on the scoresheet when Sophie Murphy broke through the opposition defence. Millie Warren added the conversion.

Edinburgh hit back with a Catriona Moody score, although Warren soon had a try of her own to keep the hosts in the contest.

Soon enough Warren had levelled the scores with a penalty. But, after the clock went dead, Fraser powered over the whitewash to hand Edinburgh a hard-fought victory.

Wolfhounds 43-20 Clovers

Wolfhounds locked up top spot with their 43-20 win over Clovers at the UCD Bowl.

Ireland out-half Dannah O’Brien was named Player of the Match for her efforts as the incumbent champions ran riot in Dublin.

Neill Alcorn’s team were in a ruthless state of mind from the very opening whistle and had a 36-0 lead at half-time thanks to Grace Moore, India Daley, Niamh Marley, Erin King and Robyn O’Connor tries.

 

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Just after half-time Béibhinn Parsons did get a score on the board for Clovers. King almost instantly struck back for the hosts and O’Brien’s conversion concluded Wolfhounds’ scoring for the afternoon.

As the clock ticked down Wolfhounds’ Regan Casey received a yellow card and 10 minutes later Meabh Clenaghan was shown a red card.

Clovers made the most of their player advantage as Katie Whelan and Anna McGann dotted down.

Both teams have locked up home semi-finals, with Clovers taking on Gwalia Lightning and Wolfhounds host Brython Thunder.

Brython Thunder 7-0 Gwalia Lightning

It was a highly attritional affair at Parc y Scarlets as Brython Thunder narrowly beat Gwalia Lightning and claimed the final semi-final spot.

Four wins in a row have catapulted Ashley Beck’s team to the final four and had to dig deep to get this result over the line against their closest rivals on Sunday.

Branwen Metcalfe scored the game’s sole try in the 13th minute as she broke a tackle to dot down. Hanna Marshall added the conversion.

Both teams did challenge the whitewash throughout the rest of the game but could not provide the finishing touch.

In the closing minutes Gwalia were left wondering ‘what if’ when failing to make the most of a two player advantage as Jess Rogers and Seren Singleton were both sent to the sin bin.