The three Celtic Cup squads for the tournament this Saturday 24th May at Archer’s Arena, Cardiff Metropolitan University’s Cyncoed Campus have been confirmed.
Ireland have selected a very experienced squad with just the one newcomer in Leinster’s Jack Shannon Cole, who was introduced to wheelchair Rugby League in late 2024 and has featured in all seven matches for Leinster so far in 2025.
Tom Martin makes his first appearance since RLWC 2022, having first debuted in 2015. The remaining eight all played in Ireland’s Celtic Cup win last year.
Newly appointed captain Joseph Calcott leads the team – the first Rugby League Ireland squad that includes players representing all four provinces – for the first time.
Ireland head coach, Phil Roberts, commented: “Our inaugural domestic competition, launched this year, has produced increased player numbers and regular participation opportunities that were not previously available.
“This gives us improved tactical and technical knowledge and provides healthy competition for places. The Celtic Cup gets bigger and better every year and with some experienced players returning for Wales and the emergence of Edinburgh Giants. I expect this to be the toughest competition yet.”
Brogan Evans, one of three potential debutants for Wales along with Jonathan Gill, Jakub Wasieczko, could become be the first ever player to represent their country in both the running and wheelchair versions of the sport.
A former Wales women’s international, she suffered an injury which has put her out of the running game and started playing the wheelchair version with North Wales Crusaders in the Welsh league and Salford Red Devils in the English league.
“Brogan’s work-rate in the build-up to this tournament has been second to none,” said Wales head coach Alan Caron. “She’s been putting in extra sessions to improve her chair skills and she scored a well-worked try for Salford last weekend. I know she’ll grip this opportunity with both hands.
“Jonathan and Jakub have been on our radar for some time. It’s the first year we can field Jakub due to his age and Jonathan was unavailable last year. Crusaders’ development system is impressive, from schools’ work to club to international.”
Scotland’s progress is being helped by Edinburgh Giants’ acceptance into the Betfred Wheelchair Super League for 2025, BBC Newsround presenter Martin Dougan among their selections. New caps are set to be given to Sarah Devlin, Hamish Douglas, Mark Robertson.
Head coach, Martyn Gill, noted: “This is a transitional chapter for us in shaping how we want Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League to look over the next few years. It’s exciting, but equally change isn’t easy and can take time.
“The squad has a blend of experience, with some regular faces from previous tournaments. The goal is to be competitive, coming up against two great sides we hope we can do ourselves and the nation proud.”
Tickets are available at: https://ticketpass.org/event/ECZYWW/celtic-cup-2025 and on the day with electronic payments only being accepted.
CELTIC CUP FIXTURES
11am – Wales v Scotland
1pm – Scotland v Ireland
3pm – Wales v Ireland
Wales squad: Lee Sargent (Cardiff Blue Dragons/Hereford Harriers), Jodie Boyd-Ward (Leeds Rhinos), Jess Booth, Jonathan Gill*, Jakub Wasieczko*, Stuart Williams (all North Wales Crusaders), Brogan Evans (North Wales Crusaders/Salford Red Devils)*, Alex Powell (Torfaen Tigers/Hereford Harriers), Scott Trigg-Turner, Mark Williams (both Torfaen Tigers/Wigan Warriors)
Scotland squad: Connor Blackmore, Calum Davidson, Sarah Devlin*, Hamish Douglas*, Olivia Fulton, David Hill, Mark Robertson*, John Willans (Edinburgh Giants), Martin Dougan (Rochdale Hornets), Calum Japes (Castleford Tigers)
Ireland squad: Toby Burton Carter, Mel Griffith (Leinster/Wigan Warriors), Joseph Calcott (Connacht/Halifax Panthers), Cian Horgan, James McCarthy (Munster), Peter Johnston (Argonauts), Tom Martin (Ulster/Halifax Panthers), Phil Roberts (Connacht/Wigan Warriors), Jack Shannon Cole*, Oran Spain (Leinster)
* uncapped
