Celtic Challenge preview: Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors teams named for campaign denouement
03/07/2025 10:57 AM
CLAIRE CRUIKSHANK has been forced by a combination of illness and injury to mix up her Edinburgh team for tomorrow [Saturday] afternoons final Celtic Challenge outing of the season away to top of the table Irish Wolfhounds at Energia Park in Dublin. The hosts need a win to ensure they keep their noses in front of Irish rivals, Clovers, to win the title.
In the backline for Warriors, Sarah Denholm makes her first start of the campaign at fly-half and will skipper the side, Hannah Ramsay shifts from stand-off to full-back.
Meanwhile, up front, Karis Craig comes in at hooker, Megan Riach is selected at tight-head prop, Lucy Christie makes her first Edinburgh start in the second-row, and Charlotte Russell will also make her first start at openside in place of missing captain Alex Stewart.
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"Although the conditions leading up to our final match are not ideal, with injuries and illness, I'm excited for the players who will have the opportunity to showcase their talent,” said Cruikshank. "We still field a strong squad featuring promising young talent and aim to finish the tournament on a high playing with pride and passion."
Edinburgh (v Irish Wolfhounds @ Energia Park on Saturday, kick-off 12.15pm) – live on BBC iPlayer: H Ramsay; C Bell, L Brown, G Chichot, L Scott; S Dehholm ©, R Clarke; A Wilson, K Craig, M Riach, L Christie, N Logan, C Moody, C Russell, M Gunderson. Subs: M Capaldi, T Tawake, K Fraser, R McPherson, F Sutherland, P Benson, A McKenzie, N Marlow.
Unavailable: Hannah McMahon, Dawn Lawrie, Georgia Young, Holly McIntyre, Sam Taganekurukuru, Charlotte Fosbeary, Shona Campbell, Lucy MacRae, Hannah Walker, Molly Poolman, Aila Ronald, Adelle Ferrie, Alex Stewart, Chloe Brown, Lauryn Walter
Similarly, Lindsey Smith has made five changes to her Glasgow Warriors team for their campaign finale against Brython Thunder at Pacc y Scarlets in Llanelli, hoping to turn round a 17-33 defeat when the two sides met at Scotstoun last weekend.
Two of the changes come in the front-row, with Lisa Cockburn – in her first appearance for Glasgow Warriors since January's visit to Gwalia Lightning – and Aicha Sutcliffe coming in at tight-head prop and hooker, respectively. Freya Walker moves from blindside flanker into the engine room having led all Warriors with 14 carries last weekend, and Gemma Bell joins the side at No 7 in a re-jigged back-row which sees Eilidh MacGilvray switch to No 6.
Roma Fraser is promoted to the starting lineup at full-back after a an excellent solo try off the bench last Saturday, with Emily Norval comes in on the right wing. Scotland Under-18 cap Gemma Thomson could make her club debut if called upon from the replacements
“This squad has continued to develop week on week during the 2024/25 Celtic Challenge, and everyone is keen to finish the campaign on a high,” said Smith. "Brython showed the physicality of which they are capable at Scotstoun last weekend, something to which we know we have to front up when we run out in Llanelli on Sunday.
"We're ready for the challenge that awaits us, and we're excited to pull on the jersey one more time this season."
Glasgow Warriors (v Brython Thunder @ Parc y Scarlets on Sunday, kick-off 2pm) – live on YouTube or the BBC Sport website: R Fraser; E Norval, N Flynn, B McNamara, O Proctor Norval; C Ainsworth, M McDonald ©; P Fletcher, A Sutcliffe, L Cockburn, K Yeomans, F Walker, E MacGilvray, G Bell, E Coubrough. Subs: M Hyland, A Tucker, A Ward, A Zameer, G Thomson, R Darroch, M Warren, A Evans.
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