Here are the latest rugby headlines from Wales and beyond on Thursday, July 22.
Gatland's tribute to Wales star
Former Wales and Lions coach Warren Gatland has paid tribute to Jamie Roberts following his retirement from rugby.
Gatland, who is back in Cardiff this week to receive an honorary degree from Cardiff University, said Roberts should be proud of all he has achieved. The centre called time on his career earlier this month in an emotional statement.
Gatland, who was Wales boss for the entirety of Roberts' international career, said: "I remember he was playing on the full back or wing for Cardiff and in one of our first training sessions I turned to Rob Howley and said 'I think he's a midfielder'.
"We took him to South Africa and we put him in the centre.
"He did a great job for us. There was a time where we had him, Jonathan Davies and George North, big physical players. He was definitely able to get us across the gainline, get us on the front foot and we were able to play some rugby off that.
"Defensively, he was very strong and astute as well. He was a huge part of us being successful.
"He's a big man who used his size. He made the most of his abilities. He can be proud of what he's achieved in the game and what he did for Wales in terms of the silverware that has come his way.
"I see he's doing work as a commentator now as well. But he did all those things from a rugby perspective and to get a degree in medicine, you've got to really admire that.
"It must have been pretty tough because there's a lot of pressure when you're playing sport at the highest level and to study on top of that is commendable.
"From where I'm sitting, I'm pretty impressed with what Jamie achieved and contributed to Welsh rugby as a player."
'I can't win but I will fight with everything'
Ed Slater says he will "meet this challenge head-on" after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
The 33-year-old Gloucester lock announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect on Thursday.
Gloucester set up a JustGiving page to raise £20,000 for Slater and his family. That target was passed within hours of its launch and on Friday afternoon stood at just under £44,000.
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Slater, who featured in a number of England squads and represented England Saxons, joined Gloucester in 2017 following seven years with Leicester, where he served as club captain.
"I want to say Thank You to everyone for all your messages of support and generosity," he said, on Twitter.
"It gives me and my family a huge amount of strength in a time of sadness for us.
"I will meet this challenge head-on. Ultimately I can't win but I will fight with everything. Hope is not lost.
"I also want to add a thank you to @JillADouglas and @MNDoddie5 who have been a huge support. I'd also like to thank @mndassoc.
"Both are working to fight this disease for me and all my fellow battlers of MND as well as our loved ones."
Gloucester have expressed gratitude for support received by the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation.
The foundation was set up by former Scotland and British and Irish Lions lock Doddie Weir, who revealed in June 2017 that he was suffering from MND.
Weir has been driven to help fellow sufferers and seek ways to further research into an, as yet, incurable disease.
Announcing Slater's diagnosis on Thursday, Gloucester said: "Following six months of testing, Ed's diagnosis was confirmed last week, and as a result, with the support of his family, friends and Gloucester Rugby, he has made the difficult decision to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.
"Everyone at Gloucester Rugby - players, management and staff - are entirely committed to supporting Ed, his wife Jo and his three children in whatever way required.
"We know the same will be true of Gloucester and Leicester fans, and the wider rugby community."
Transgender women to be banned from female rugby in England
The Rugby Football Union is to vote next week on recommendations that only females born as females be permitted to play the sport, the governing body has announced.
The recommendations have been made after the RFU conducted an extensive review of its gender participation policy for English domestic rugby.
The RFU says it received more than 11,000 responses to a game-wide survey on the matter and listened to a wide range of views, while also considering scientific evidence and guidance from other sporting bodies.
A vote on the matter will be taken by the RFU Council on Friday, July 29 with a view to changing the policy ahead of the 2022-23 season.
A statement from the RFU said "science provides the basis of the recommendation that the inclusion of trans people assigned male at birth in female contact rugby cannot be balanced against considerations of safety and fairness".
It added: "The recommendation is that until such time as new science is available, a precautionary approach is appropriate to ensure fair competition and safety of all competitors.
"This is a complex and difficult decision and the recommendation has not been made lightly or without thorough and full research and consultation."
Nigel Owens' world XV
Nigel Owens has picked George North and flanker Tommy Reffell in his World XV of the summer, while opting for a shock choice at number 10.
Owens selected Chile outside-half Rodrigo Fernandez in his side after he scored one of the all-time great tries against the USA ( you can watch it here ) to help his country reach their first ever Rugby World Cup.
He told World Rugby: “ I just can’t begin to imagine what that means for him and the country as well. He not only scored one of the great tries of the month but one of the great tries in rugby history as well.
"As for No9, this guy has got a great future, Jack van Poortvliet, scrum-half for England. A fellow farmer as well, he grew up on a farm. Really stepped up and didn’t look out of place. Only 21 years old, he has got a great future ahead of him. One to watch for the World Cup, I am sure.
“But what about No6? Well, a straightforward decision, Peter O’Mahony. At 32 years of age, he epitomises what Irish rugby is all about. Led by example throughout the series and refused to take a backward step. Nothing new about that I can tell you.
“Second row, Eben Etzebeth. A centurion for South Africa, an absolutely colossal player, big carriers and even bigger hits as well. His physicality nullified Wales and he is one of the many leaders in the South Africa squad.”
Nigel Owens’ July Best Test XV
15. Damian Willemse (South Africa); 14. Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina), 13. George North (Wales), 12. Samu Kerevi (Australia), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland); 10. Rodrigo Fernandez (Chile), 9. Jack van Poortvliet (England); 1. Ellis Genge (England), 2. Dan Sheehan (Ireland), 3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (New Zealand), 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland), 7. Tommy Reffell (Wales), 8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
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