Experienced Wales second row Natalia John is joined by fellow Wales internationals Niamh Terry, Hannah Bluck and Meg Webb in a new-look Thunder squad.
Fifteen of the 30 players named are new to the Celtic Challenge, with ten players from Wales U20s named, including the likes Hanna Marshall, Cadi-Lois Davies, Lucy Isaac and Eleanor Hing, who trained with the Wales senior training squad.
Four players who attended the Celtic Challenge Open Trial at the National Centre of Excellence have been named in the squad.
Poppy Hughes, Kira Phillpot, Anna Stowell and Bethan Adkins have all been selected from the Open Trial back in October.
The Thunder travel to face Welsh rivals the Lightning for the first of two Welsh derbies during December.
Ashley Beck, Brython Thunder Head coach, said: “We have a core of players who know all about the tournament and we have selected some new and exciting talent and are looking forward to seeing them compete at this level.
“Having the experience of Natalia John will be important for us with half of our squad new to the demands of the Celtic Challenge. We developed a real identity and style of play last season and we need to do that again.
“The new home and away format will test all the teams but we are looking forward to the tournament and it will be exciting to see how our younger players develop. Kicking-off with a Welsh derby is a challenge we are all looking forward to.
The Celtic Challenge is the new cross-border competition between two Welsh sides, two Irish teams and two Scottish clubs and opens with two Welsh Derbies in Wales.
- Round 1: Gwalia Lightning v Brython Thunder, Ystrad Mynach, Saturday, December 21st (KO: 2.30pm)
- Round 2: Brython Thunder v Gwalia Lightning, Parc Y Scarlets, Saturday, December 28th (KO: 2.30pm)
