Match Preview: Brython Thunder

3 Jan 2025

Get the latest from Edinburgh Rugby Women’s Head Coach Claire Cruikshank and second-row Natasha Logan as they look ahead to this Saturday’s Celtic Challenge Round 2 clash against Brython Thunder at Hive Stadium.

Edinburgh Rugby face the Welsh side in the Scottish capital on Saturday afternoon (Saturday 4 January, kick-off 2pm) looking to build on their opening round 63-15 victory over Glasgow Warriors.

Head Coach Claire Cruikshank

On this year’s squad

“There is a real core of young players in this squad now who are putting their hands up for leadership roles and hopefully they can put themselves into 6N reckoning as well.

On the start to the season

“It is good to have two home games to start off our campaign and after beating Glasgow we want to continue that momentum this weekend.

“We love playing at Hive Stadium so it has been good to have these two home games to settle the nerves in familiar surroundings before we start our travels

On facing Brython Thunder

“Thunder are physical, we know we will have to be on it from a physicality point of view on both sides of the ball while they look to play as well so we will have to be switched on, but we also think there are a couple of opportunities where we can expose them and we are looking forward to Saturday and the squad can’t wait to get going again.

Natasha Logan

On the win over Glasgow

“I think we were happy with the result against Glasgow obviously, but I think we only showed part of what we can do and we have so much more potential as a group and we can keep growing into this competition.

On growing confidence

“We are starting to make good connections and we want to keep growing those and show the other teams in the competition that they should be worried about us.

On the forward pack

“The Glasgow match was quite a backs orientated match and we just had to get them as much ball as we could, but going into this Thunder game as a forward pack we are all really looking forward to fronting up against their forwards and taking them on in a physical battle.

“We want to show what we can do in the set piece area of the game as that is our bread and butter and we have some really good forwards in the squad just now and a good blend.”