WRU to revamp nation's top women's teams

Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder will go out of existence under the WRU's new plans

The top level of women's rugby in Wales is to be revamped with its two current teams to be replaced by fresh set-ups.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) will ask the nation's four professional men's regions - Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff and "selected universities" - to bid to form the new teams.

They will replace Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge, a competition in which two sides each from Ireland and Scotland also play.

The WRU stated: "The professional clubs will be asked to bid for a 'Celtic Challenge Licence' and split the funding for the two teams for the next three years until 2028, with Welsh universities also welcomed into the process.

"The cost of each team will be match-funded by the WRU, with each club's operating cost expected to be £200,000 a season."

The WRU added: "This exciting and key development for Welsh rugby recognises that women's rugby is the fastest growth area of the game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup set to be a 'generational' moment for the sport."

WRU head of women's and girls rugby Belinda Moore said: "This is a hugely significant and exciting moment for women's rugby in Wales. It underlines the WRU's commitment to grow the game at home, and we look forward to having discussions with the professional clubs in Wales and our educational establishments.

"The initial discussions that have taken place have recognised that this is a unique and exciting opportunity for Welsh rugby."

Moore added: "From my personal experience across the border, the English clubs have recognised the value and commercial opportunities available in women's rugby.

"This will not be easy, and we expect to have detailed discussions around what support the WRU will provide and to scrutinise what the clubs who apply will offer the next generation of players in Wales."

Moore also highlighted the achievements of university side Cardiff Met.

"Cardiff Met's recent fantastic success, beating Loughborough and being crowned Women's BUCS Super Rugby champions, included 10 players who played in the Celtic Challenge last season," said Moore.

"It underlines that Wales produces rugby talent, and we just need to provide that talent with the opportunity and a stage to develop and flourish."

The new teams' coaches will be appointed by the WRU.

The union added that successful bids to form the teams "will meet the operating standards set by the tournament organisers".

For the last two campaigns, Brython Thunder played at Parc y Scarlets, while Gwalia Lightning switched between Cardiff Arms Park and Rodney Parade in their first season and at Ystrad Mynach in 2024-25.

The WRU has set a deadline of Friday, 2 May for any expressions of interest in forming one of the new teams.

Ospreys 'keen' to form women's team

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley says they would be "keen" to form a women's team for the Celtic Challenge to play out at St Helen's, where Ospreys plan to play in 2025-26.

He told S4C Chwaraeon: "I was at Gloucester when we revised our support for the Hartpury team, which has ended up with winning the championship for three years in a row so I've been passionate about women's rugby for a long time and we would love to have a women's team at St Helen's."