Brython Thunder are a Welsh women's rugby union team based in Llanelli. Founded in 2023, the team competes in the Celtic Challenge, the international competition between Scottish, Welsh and Irish regional teams.

History

The

Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU; ) is the governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales, recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby. The WRU is responsible for the running of rugby in Wales, overseeing 320 member clu ...

(WRU) announced the creation of two teams that would compete in the Celtic Challenge in December 2023, the teams were

Gwalia Lightning Gwalia Lightning is a Welsh women's rugby union team based in Cardiff. Founded in 2023, the team competes in the Celtic Challenge, the international competition between Scottish, Welsh and Irish regional teams. History The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) ...

and Brython Thunder. They replaced the Wales Development XV team that competed in the inaugural Celtic Challenge season. Ashley Beck was appointed head coach for the 2023–24 season. He remained as head coach for the 2024–25 season. The first match in the history of the team took place on 30 December 2023, against

. The match was won by Gwalia Lightning. The team won three of their seven matches and finished fifth in the table. They finished the 2024–25 in 4th place, behind Gwalia Lightning and the Irish teams of

The Clovers The Clovers are an American rhythm and blues/doo-wop vocal group who became one of the biggest selling acts of the 1950s.The Guinness Who's Who of Fifties Music. General Editor: Colin Larkin. First published 1993 (UK). . The Clovers p77. They ha ...

(2nd) and The Wolfhounds (1st). On 24 April 2025 WRU announced their plans to revamp their 2 teams, inviting regions and universities to bid for new teams that would replace both Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning. The plan was later postponed "due to the ongoing transformation in the men's game" meaning both teams would compete again in the 2025–26 season.

References

{{reflist Celtic Challenge teams Rugby clubs established in 2023 2023 establishments in Wales Women's rugby union in Wales