Here's your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, May 6.
Welsh player's parents hope mental health admission will help others
The parents of a Welsh rugby player who has stepped away from the game after a suicide attempt have spoken about the importance of talking about mental health.
Ospreys scrum-half Harri Morgan revealed recently that he had attempted to end his life after suffering "in silence for a number of years".
Now, his parents have opened up on the impact it had on them, as well as their hope that the 23-year-old's openness on the subject will help others.
SIGN UP: Get the latest Welsh rugby breaking news and interviews via our free daily newsletter
Morgan's mother, Helen, told ITV: "There are other Harri Morgans out there that are coming through the same pathway as him. If he can save just one of those then that would make a massive difference."
In the interview, Helen revealed that she had received a phone call in February from the Ospreys to say that her son had not turned up to work.
"You know, you have these children, I had this beautiful boy that we've brought into an adult world," she said.
"And then all of a sudden I cannot do anything as a mother to take the pain away, which you feel, as a mother, is your job."
Morgan's father, Leigh, added: "For me it's guilt. And I question myself. Have I contributed to this? Have I put pressure on him? Have I said or done the right thing at the right time? It's hard."
URC semi-final shock
Five penalties from Jack Carty helped Connacht advance to the semi-finals of the BKT United Rugby Championship at the expense of Ulster after the visitors won a tense Irish derby 15-10 at Kingspan Stadium.
Connacht will now travel to South Africa next week to meet the winners of Saturday's quarter-final between the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls.
This was only the third time Connacht have beaten Ulster in Belfast since 1960 and each of these wins have been secured since Dan McFarland took over at Ulster in 2018.
The result was a massive blow to Ulster who would have earned themselves a home semi-final with victory in a contest where they scored the game's only try through their skipper Alan O'Connor after the hosts had battled back from trailing 12-3 to cut Connacht's lead to two points.
The remainder of Ulster's points came from John Cooney's conversion of the O'Connor try and a penalty.
Former Wales star names hardest opponent he ever faced
Josh Navidi has named Scotland back-row Hamish Watson as the best player he ever faced.
Navidi recently retired after a career that saw him turn out for Cardiff, Wales and the Lions. And it was one his team-mates from that 2021 Lions tour of South Africa that Navidi deemed to be the hardest he'd come across on the pitch.
Speaking on the RugbyPass Offload podcast, Navidi said: "Hamish Watson, coming up against him you know what you have.
"When they say tough players, it’s players who are always there, always on top of you. You don’t get a breath of fresh air… someone who is there every ruck."
Wales Women set for New Zealand trip
Wales women will travel to New Zealand later this year as World Rugby announced the details for the inaugural WXV competition.
The new three-tiered global women's tournament starts in October despite clashing with the men's World Cup, with last year's World champions, the Black Ferns, confirmed as hosts for the top tier.
Wales feature in the top tier after finishing in the top three of this year's TikTok Six Nations, which saw them rise to a new high of sixth in the world rankings.
South Africa will host the second tier of the WXV competition, with the third tier yet to announce a host country. The competition marks something often talked about but never achieved within men's rugby - a global Test competition outside of a World Cup.
And despite the clash with the men's World Cup in France, World Rugby's director of women's rugby Sally Horrox insisted that the WXV - first planned for last year until the 2021 World Cup was pushed back - had to launch this year.
"We could not wait any longer - we felt a real moral and sporting responsibility," she said.
Matches in WXV1 will be played on the weekends of 21 and 28 October and 4 November. The final weekend was pushed back to avoid clashing with the men's World Cup final on 28 October.
Dates and venues for WXV1 should soon be confirmed by the New Zealand Rugby Union, with games taking place around the country.
Ireland coach leaves with immediate effect
Ireland women’s head coach Greg McWilliams has left his position with immediate effect.
Friday's announcement came six days after defeat to Scotland consigned them to the TikTok Six Nations wooden spoon, having completed a clean sweep of losses.
A statement read: “The Irish Rugby Football Union can today confirm that Greg McWilliams has left his role as head coach of the Ireland women’s XV by mutual consent and with immediate effect.
“The remainder of the current management team will remain in situ and John McKee will oversee operations until a long-term replacement is finalised.
“The IRFU would like to thank Greg for his efforts over the course of the last 18 months and wish him and his family well for the future. The IRFU will now begin the process of replacing him.”
Read more:
The Wales internationals, Grand Slam winners and fans' favourites forced to quit this season
Warren Gatland's selection mind games with his own players the day before announcement
Dai Young investigation latest as Cardiff face difficult period
The reason Ross Moriarty turned down Warren Gatland's World Cup squad
