Thunder and Lightning name Celtic Challenge coaches

Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin won 60 caps for Wales while Ashley Beck won seven

Former internationals Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin and Ashley Beck will continue to coach Wales' two Celtic Challenge sides.

Nicholas-Mclaughlin will take charge of Gwalia Lightning, while Beck is named head coach of Brython Thunder.

The cross-border competition is now in its third year and features Glasgow and Edinburgh from Scotland, with Wolfhounds and Clover representing Ireland.

Games kick off in December with teams playing each other both home and away in a new expanded format.

Wales Under-18s head coach and Under-20s assistant Nicholas-McLaughlin led Lightning to a third-place finish in last year's tournament.

She said it had proved a "fantastic experience" for her young squad, with six of her charges going on to make their senior Wales debuts.

“The likes of Nel Metcalfe, Gwennan Hopkins, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon used it as a real launchpad," she said.

Wales Under-20s attack coach Beck had a more experienced side, with established internationals such as Alex Callender, Natalia John and Sioned Harries in his Thunder squad.

"The chance to test yourself against the best in Wales, Ireland and Scotland is a mouth-watering prospect," he said.

The squads and fixtures for 2024-2025 will be released in the coming weeks.