The latest news and rugby headlines from Wales and beyondThe Principality Stadium during Wales’ Women’s Six Nations clash with England this year(Image: Getty Images)

Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, August 22.

Former Wales star welcomes ‘radical’ step forward

Former Wales international Philippa Tuttiett says having two professional women’s teams in Wales would be a “huge step forward”.

The idea is part of the Welsh Rugby Union’s preferred proposals that could see the number of men’s professional teams in Wales reduced from four to two teams.

However, Tuttiett hopes that no matter what the outcome of that discussion, the women’s game will be boosted when the consultation period is finalised in October.

“Initially the emotive response was ‘Wow, this is radical’,” said Tuttiett on Scrum V. “But as a female player and passionate about developing the female game, to see that there could be two professional women’s teams in Wales, that is huge, and that is exactly what we need, that’s the next progression, because I daresay 95 per cent of our World Cup squad all play their rugby in England at the moment.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic league, but let’s have something here in Wales, maybe that could join the PWR in the future, who knows?

“Some big decisions to be made, as you reiterate, this is out for consultation, nothing has been decided.

“I’m not the person to say what the right thing is, but I really do hope that people do see the positive side of it, and having a professional game in Wales is a huge step forward, and I hope that whatever outcome we get to in regards to the men’s teams, whether it continues as four, if the ambition can still be to have at least one women’s professional team, that would be a huge step forward in the women’s game.”

Ireland international diagnosed with cancer

Ireland international Shannon Ikahihifo has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The three-cap international posted about her diagnosis on Friday, with the 30-year-old saying: “Crazy to think that one day you can be running around on the rugby pitch feeling completely fine, then five days later you’re sitting in a hospital room being told you have cancer.

“Still a little in shock if I’m honest, but I’m so blessed to have the most amazing husband, family, and friends that always carry when things start to feel a bit heavy.

“Fair to say she’s been a pretty tough few weeks. But lucky we’re tougher.”

Ikahihifo had been part of Ireland’s wider training squad for the World Cup, but did not make the final squad.

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon reacted to the news, saying that the whole squad were behind Ikahihifo following her diagnosis

“We found out as a group a little bit earlier than everyone else heard, but we respected Shannon’s space that she wanted to deal with this herself and even get to terms with what the news entirely is,” said McMahon ahead of their World Cup opener against Japan on Sunday.

“A credit to her to be so brave to come out. It would be very easy to fall into the background and not say anything and not raise awareness herself.”

McMahon added: “I know Breast Cancer Awareness is actually happening next month, but the full group are here to support her and we’re all thinking of her.

“But at the same time, she’s so selfless in that she didn’t want to distract from rugby itself and all of the good work that’s going on for World Rugby and this campaign.

“She was like, ‘I don’t want it to be about me’, but that’s Shannon to a T. The squad are definitely thinking of her and we’re here to support her whatever that looks like.”

Wales training gets ‘spicy’ ahead of big kick-off

Wales women’s head coach Sean Lynn says training has become a ‘little spicy’ as they prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against Scotland on Saturday.

The clash at Salford Community Stadium should prove crucial for Wales’ hopes in the World Cup – with the winner of Saturday’s match likely to make the knockout stages.

Wales lost all five matches in the Six Nations this year, but defeated Australia in Brisbane once Lynn was handed some time to work with the players – leaving the squad quietly confident they can impress.

“That’s where we’re at at the moment. It’s really nice, the competitiveness that we’ve got in the squad,” said Lynn.

“Today it got a little bit spicy in training and that’s how I think it should be.

“We’re in a World Cup and it’s the biggest World Cup, so it’s really exciting and the girls are just thriving on it.”

While Lynn said there is still more to come from his side, he believes they have made progress in the collision area over the summer, with Ben Flower coming into his backroom staff.

“We’re on the right track. I set targets after the Six Nations to the players. They went away and have come back in better shape,” Lynn said.

“The big emphasis is making sure that we can play with the intensity that I want us to.

“I’ve been driving scenarios into the girls… hopefully there will be some scenarios on Saturday that we’ve done already and fingers crossed we will come out on top.”

It ‘felt like a funeral’ after Springboks defeat

Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick says defeat to Australia felt like ‘a funeral’ last week as they look to bounce back against the Wallabies in Cape Town this weekend.

Stick said they are expecting a massive onslaught from Joe Schmidt’s side and added that the disappointment among South Africa fans really struck a chord.

“The Wallabies have world-class players, and they did well to capitalise on some of our errors last week,” said Stick.

“This is the standard in the Rugby Championship, so it’s important for us to go back and make it right this weekend. This team knows how to learn through tough times.

“It felt like a funeral after the last match, and we know how disappointed our supporters were.”

Captain Jesse Kriel shared the Bok coach’s sentiments ahead of their second Rugby Championship fixture, saying: “We know what we got wrong last weekend, and we’ve worked hard to rectify that and align on what we want to achieve going into this game.

“We’ve been here before, and it’s important for us not to forget that we’ve lost one match up to now. The great thing about rugby is that we have a chance to fix things again this weekend, and everyone is itching to get back on the field.

“Although there is pressure, we are used to it because there is pressure every week at this level.”