Congratulations to Ex-Tynedale Panthers player Gemma Bell on her selection for Edinburgh Rugby Women who are one of six sides competing in this season’s Celtic Challenge.

The Celtic Challenge is a women's cross border competition organised by the Irish, Scottish and Welsh Rugby Unions to bridge the gap between club rugby and full international with the Edinburgh squad containing several fully capped internationals.

Nineteen-year-old Gemma has been named as flanker in Edinburgh Rugby Women’s starting lineup for their opening match against Glasgow Warriors, which will be played at the Hive Stadium, Edinburgh on Saturday 30th December (KO 12noon)
The match will be shown live on the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer as well as Rugby Pass.
Gemma currently plays her university and club rugby at Gloucester Hartpury

Good Luck Gemma, all at Tynedale RFC are proud of you. ENJOY!

The selected Edinburgh side boasts several talented developing Scottish players, with fully capped internationalists adding further experience to the side.
15. Nicole Marlow** (Cardiff Met)
14. Hannah Walker* (Edinburgh University)
13. Emma Orr* (Heriot’s Blues/Biggar RFC)
12. Briar McNamara (Watsonian FC)
11. Cieron Bell* (Edinburgh University)
10. Sarah Denholm* (CAPTAIN) (Edinburgh University)
9. Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning)
1. Poppy Fletcher* (Edinburgh University)
2. Nicola Haynes** (Saracens)
3. Katie Lindsay* (Corstorphine Cougars)
4. Fiona McIntosh** (Saracens)
5. Natasha Logan* (Edinburgh University)
6. Gemma Bell** (Hartpury University)
7. Alex Stewart* (VICE-CAPTAIN) (Corstorphine Cougars)
8. Merryn Gunderson (Corstorphine Cougars)
Replacements
16. Millie Whitehouse (Edinburgh University)
17. Panashe Muzambe** (Exeter Chiefs)
18. Molly Poolman* (Watsonian FC)
19. Adelle Ferrie (Corstorphine Cougars)
20. Freya Walker* (Watsonian FC)
21. Leia Brebner-Holden** (Gloucester Hartpury & Cheltenham Tigers)

*Scottish Rugby Regional Training Centre supported players
** Transitional SQ Player

This season the Celtic Challenge will be contested by 6 teams:
• 2 teams from Ireland, the Clovers and the Wolfhounds.
• 2 teams from Wales, Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning.
• 2 teams from Scotland, Edinburgh Rugby and Glasgow Warriors

The competition will be made up of five rounds, before three doubleheader play-off rounds determine this season’s Celtic Challenge champions.

The Edinburgh Rugby fixtures are:-
Sat 30th Jan – Glasgow Warriors (A), Hive Stadium
Sat 6th Jan - Irish Wolfhounds(H), Hive Stadium (2pm)
Sun 14th Jan - Brython Thunder (A), Parc Y Scarlets (1.30pm)
Sat 27th Jan - Gwalia Lightning (A), Cardiff Arms Park (1.30pm)
Sat 3rd Feb - Clovers (H), Hive Stadium (12.30pm)

LINKS:-
EDINBURGH RUGBY WOMENS SIDE NAMED FOR FIRST EVER MATCH

CELTIC CHALLENGE: ENHANCED WOMEN'S RUGBY COMPETITION SHOWN LIVE ON BBC

SCOTTISH RUGBY NAMES TRANSITIONAL PLAYERS AVAILABLE FOR CELTIC CHALLENGE SELECTION

Gemma in her Tynedale days