Ireland keen to support 'brave' Ikahihifo after cancer diagnosis

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon says nan squad are down Shannon Ikahihifo aft nan guardant revealed she has been diagnosed pinch bosom cancer.

New Zealand-born Ikahihifo, who has won 3 Ireland caps, was portion of nan training squad for nan Women's Rugby World Cup but was not selected successful nan last sheet for nan tournament.

In a station connected Instagram connected Friday, nan 30-year-old Trailfinders subordinate said: "Crazy to deliberation that 1 time you tin beryllium moving astir connected nan rugby transportation emotion wholly fine, past 5 days later you're sitting successful a infirmary room being told you person cancer.

"Still a small successful daze if I'm honest, but I'm truthful blessed to person nan astir astonishing husband, family, and friends that ever transportation erstwhile things commencement to consciousness a spot heavy.

"Fair to opportunity she's been a beautiful reliable fewer weeks. But fortunate we're tougher."

Speaking connected Friday, aft nan Ireland squad for Sunday's Pool C opener against Japan was named, McMahon praised Ikahihifo for sharing her news.

"We recovered retired arsenic a group a small spot earlier than everyone other heard, but we respected Shannon's abstraction that she wanted to woody pinch this herself and moreover get to position pinch what nan news wholly is," said McMahon.

"A in installments to her to beryllium truthful brave to travel out. It would beryllium very easy to autumn into nan inheritance and not opportunity thing and not raise consciousness herself."

McMahon added: "I cognize Breast Cancer Awareness is really happening adjacent month, but nan afloat group are present to support her and we're each reasoning of her.

"But astatine nan aforesaid time, she's truthful selfless successful that she didn't want to distract from rugby itself and each of nan bully activity that's going connected for World Rugby and this campaign.

"She was like, 'I don't want it to beryllium astir me', but that's Shannon to a T. The squad are decidedly reasoning of her and we're present to support her immoderate that looks like."