THE fourth round of games in the 2024/2025 Celtic Challenge Women’s Rugby competition get underway this weekend with the Wolfhounds heading to Wales for an away game against Brython Thunder on Saturday at noon.
After an impressive bonus point win against Glasgow Warriors last week, the Wolfhounds will be eager to keep the momentum going against Welsh opponents Brython Thunder.
Head Coach Neill Alcorn has made two changes to the startling line up with Ella Roberts and Jade Gaffney coming in at 14 and nine respectively. Ulster’s Claire Boles continues as captain while Maebh Clenaghan keeps her place in the starting line-up.
Brython Thunder will be looking for their first win in the competition this weekend, having lost both derby games against Gwalia Lightning and being beaten narrowly by Edinburgh in round three.
The match is live on irishrugby+
Wolfhounds Team & Replacements (Brython Thunder Parc Y Scarlets, Saturday, Jan 11, 12 noon)
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
14. Ella Roberts (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)
13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union)
11. Amy Larn (Athy/Leinster)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Jade Gaffney (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
2. Maebh Clenaghan (Queens/Cooke/Ulster)
3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Alma Atagamen (Balbriggan/Leinster)
5. Cliodhna Ni Chonchobhair (Blackrock College/Leinster)
6. Molly Boyne (Railway Union/Leinster)
7. Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster) Captain
8. Erin King (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Replacements
16. Kelly Burke (Mullingar/Leinster)
17. Tricia Doyle (Railway Union/Leinster)
18. Christy Haney (Blackrock RFC/Leinster)
19. Ciara Short (Wicklow/Leinster)
20. Caoimhe Molloy (Wicklow/Leinster)
21. Rachael McIlroy (Queens/Ulster)
22. Leah Tarpey (Railway Union/Leinster)
23. Katie Heffernan (Railway Union/Leinster)
Ulster’s Sadhbh McGrath retains her place in a Clovers starting line-up facing a stiff test in Cork against top of the table Edinburgh who are coming off two wins from two.
After an impressive bonus point win against Gwalia Lightning last week in Belfast, head coach Denis Fogarty has made three personnel changes and one positional switch from last week’s starting XV with Amee Leigh Costigan, Jemina Adams Verling and Aoife Corey starting and Maebh Deely switching from 15 to 11.
The Clovers are currenly third in the table, behind the Wolfhounds (2nd) and Edinburgh (1st) on points difference.
The game is live on irishrugby+
Clovers Team & Replacements (v Edinburgh Rugby, Virgin Media Park, Saturday, Jan 11, 3.00pm.)
15. Aoife Corey (UL Bohemian/Munster)
14. Amee Leigh Costigan (Railway Union/Munster)
13. Anna McGann (Railway Union)
12. Enya Breen (Blackrock College/Munster) Captain
11. Meabh Deely (Blackrock College/Connacht)
10. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
9. Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster)
1. Siobhán McCarthy (Railway Union/Munster)
2. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian/Munster)
3. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster)
4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Jane Neill (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Jemima Adams Verling (Creggs/Connacht)
7. Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere/Munster)
8. Ivana Kiripati (Creggs/Connacht)
Replacements
16. Emily Gavin (Railway Union/Connacht)
17. Grainne Burke (UL Bohemian/Munster)
18. Sophie Barrett (Enniskillen/Railway Union/Ulster)
19. Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian/Munster)
20. Shirley Bailey (Ballincollig RFC)
21. Grainne Moran (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Caitriona Finn (UL Bohemian/Munster)
23. Chisom Ugwueru (UL Bohemian/Munster)
