Celtic Challenge introduces home final as 2026-27 fixtures are confirmed

The Celtic Challenge has changed how it selects the venue for its final, giving the higher-ranked of the two qualifying teams home advantage in 2026-27. BBC Sport reported the change as fixtures were announced for the cross-border rugby competition, which begins on 5 December and features two teams apiece from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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The new arrangement replaces a neutral final venue and makes regular-season seeding part of the route to hosting the trophy match. Each team has five home fixtures and five away fixtures. The semi-finals are scheduled for 13 March, with the final on the weekend of 27 March. Wolfhounds won their third consecutive title last season by beating Clovers at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.

Edinburgh's own fixture announcement confirms that Louise Dalgliesh's team will open away to Clovers before hosting Gwalia Lightning on 12 December. Their first meeting with Glasgow Warriors follows at Hive Stadium on 19 December. After the festive break, a home game against Wolfhounds on 10 January completes a sequence of three consecutive matches in Edinburgh.

Dalgliesh said confirmation of the schedule allowed her staff to plan the season, and highlighted the mix of emerging young players and international recruits signed during the summer. Her stated priority is to bring that squad together for the opening fixtures. Edinburgh have put tickets for all of their home matches on sale.

Glasgow's published schedule gives new head coach Robbie Fergusson three away fixtures before his first competitive home match. The Warriors start against Gwalia Lightning at Ystrad Mynach on 5 December, then visit Wolfhounds in Belfast and Edinburgh. Their first Scotstoun fixture is against Gwalia on 9 January. Glasgow said tickets for their home programme would go on sale in the coming weeks.

Both Scottish clubs have confirmed the return derby at Scotstoun for Friday 26 February, with a 7.30pm kick-off. That match completes their regular-season schedules. Edinburgh play three of their final four fixtures away, while Glasgow finish with successive home games against Wolfhounds and Edinburgh. Those closing fixtures come before the March knockout rounds under the newly announced final-hosting arrangement.