Welsh Celtic Challenge Teams Announce Coaching Staff

Former Welsh international players Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin, who earned 60 caps, and Ashley Beck, with seven caps, are set to continue their coaching roles for Wales’ two Celtic Challenge teams. Nicholas-Mclaughlin has been appointed to lead Gwalia Lightning, while Beck will serve as the head coach for Brython Thunder. Now in its third iteration, this cross-border tournament includes Scottish teams Glasgow and Edinburgh, alongside Irish representatives Wolfhounds and Clover. The competition is scheduled to commence in December, featuring an expanded format where teams will compete against each other in both home and away fixtures. Nicholas-McLaughlin, who also holds positions as Wales Under-18s head coach and Under-20s assistant, guided Lightning to a third-place finish in the previous year’s tournament. She described the experience as a “fantastic experience” for her youthful squad, noting that six of her players subsequently made their senior Wales debuts. “The likes of Nel Metcalfe, Gwennan Hopkins, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon used it as a real launchpad,” she stated. Beck, who is also the Wales Under-20s attack coach, managed a more seasoned Thunder squad last season, which included established international players such as Alex Callender, Natalia John and Sioned Harries. “The chance to test yourself against the best in Wales, Ireland and Scotland is a mouth-watering prospect,” he commented. Details regarding the squads and the full fixture list for the 2024-2025 season are expected to be released in the upcoming weeks.