Celtic Challenge introduces home final incentive

Irish, Scottish and Welsh teams have the added incentive of competing for a home final in the 2026-27 Celtic Challenge. The final of the 2026-27 Celtic Challenge will be played at the ground of the highest-ranked team rather than a neutral venue. The cross-border competition, which features two clubs from each of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, gets under way on Saturday, 5 December. Teams play five home and away fixtures in the regular season and there is an added incentive for placings, with the higher seed of the two semi-final winners hosting the final.

Last season Wolfhounds beat Irish rivals Clovers in a final played at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh. The champions, who won the title for the third successive season, get the 2026-27 campaign under way at home to Welsh side Brython Thunder in Belfast. Edinburgh also travel to Ireland to face Clovers while the other Welsh team, Gwalia Lightning, entertain Glasgow.