Here are the latest rugby evening headlines on Thursday, August 11.
Welsh teams cut prices amid cost of living crisis
The Dragons and Scarlets have both announced changes to their pricing structure in light of the cost of living crisis.
Dragons RFC announced their decision on Tuesday, saying their position "reflects the increasingly uncertain economic climate for everyone and the current cost of living".
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"We know it is a tough time for many fans - as a club it’s important we recognise this with our pricing structure," a statement said. Tickets for a tier one match (covering all Welsh derbies) start at £15 for adults and £10 for under-16s, while for tier two games (all other senior fixtures) tickets start at £13 for adults and £5 for children.
The Scarlets made a similar announcement on Thursday, with early bird prices for the derby and United Rugby Championship opener against Ospreys on Saturday, September 17, now priced from £16 for adults and from £5 for under-16s.
"Scarlets understand the impact the current cost of living crisis is having on our supporters so we have decided to drop our ticket prices by as much as £7 on certain ticket categories," a spokesperson said.
For Category B matches – any match other than a Welsh derby, European Challenge Cup fixture or final home game of the season against the Cell C Sharks – the early bird price has dropped to £15 and £4, while the biggest change sees the Premier full price ticket drop from £38 to £31 with standard seating dropping from £30 to £25 for category A games at full price.
Scarlets chief operating officer Philip Morgan said: "The cost of living crisis is hitting people hard and we want to make coming to watch the Scarlets as affordable as we can for everyone and feel these new reduced ticket prices offer great value to see some of the best players in world rugby in action at Parc y Scarlets."
Wales boss hails 'excellent' new kicking coach
Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham has hailed the impact of "excellent" new kicking coach Stephen Myler. The 38-year-old Ospreys fly-half has come on board to aid Wales' preparations ahead of their World Cup campaign kick-off in October, with their kicking proving to be their undoing during an otherwise impressive Six Nations run earlier this year where they finished third (their best position since 2009).
"He’s been excellent," Cunningham said. "The initial introductions to the sessions have been very relaxed, it’s more about him assessing our kickers, not changing too much but sharing his experience from a technical point of view, but also dealing with pressure situations and those key areas of our game which, when we sat down with Stephen, was being clear on our exit areas, being able to add a bit more length in our kicking game and also the points obviously, kicking for goal."
Wales Women endured a gruelling pre-season programme in July and are now back in camp ahead of travelling to Canada later this month for a training camp, culminating in a Test match on August 27. They will then face England in a final World Cup warm-up at Bristol’s Ashton Gate on Wednesday, September 14 (7.30pm kick-off) before heading to New Zealand to face Scotland in their World Cup opener on October 9.
"We’re looking forward to narrowing that focus a bit more towards rugby when we come back in to prepare ourselves for a great game out in Canada, playing a top-five team in the world away from home which will give us a mini practice before we travel to New Zealand," the Wales head coach added.
Exeter to drop controversial 'Tomahawk Chop' chant
Exeter have announced that their 'Tomahawk Chop' chant will no longer be played at games.
The chant was a familiar sound on matchdays at Sandy Park during Exeter's rise to the summit of English and European rugby.
Earlier this year, the Gallagher Premiership club announced a rebrand in line with the 'Celtic Iron Age Dumnonii Tribe' after deciding to abandon the controversial Native American theme that provoked criticism.
The new identity, including a change to their logo, took effect in July, and while the 'Chiefs' nickname is being retained, the club said it would now be aligned with a "poignant and significant nod to the past".
The Celtic Iron Age Dumnonii Tribe encompassed an area covering Devon, Cornwall and parts of Somerset for centuries before the Roman occupation from 43AD.
A section of supporters and others campaigned for change in the belief that the previous imagery disrespected indigenous people in North America, prompting an extensive review process by the club, while Chiefs fans had been repeatedly asked by opposition sides not to wear the symbolic headdress to their grounds.
It is understood the club are currently working on new run-out options for the team on matchdays to reflect their new theme.
Exeter's opening Premiership home game of the new season is against champions Leicester on September 10.
Ed Slater overwhelmed by support
Ed Slater says he has been overwhelmed by support from the rugby community after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Former Gloucester and Leicester lock Slater announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect three weeks ago.
The 34-year-old revealed that he had been diagnosed with the devastating degenerative condition that fellow former sports stars Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Len Johnrose are also battling.
Fund-raising initiatives were immediately launched, with a JustGiving page recently topping £150,000.
And Slater and a group of current and former players arrived back at Gloucester's Kingsholm ground on Wednesday following a 350-mile cycle ride that lasted three days and raised a further £155,000.
Gloucester and Slater set up the 4Ed campaign, which will initially work to raise awareness of his diagnosis, generate funds for his treatment and support his young family.
The route took in Leicester's Mattioli Woods Welford Road stadium, Milton Keynes - Slater's home town - and Twickenham before heading back to the west country, with Slater being joined by the likes of current Gloucester players Lewis Ludlow, Billy Twelvetrees and Fraser Balmain.
They were welcomed by around 250 Gloucester supporters, family and friends, and an emotional Slater said: "I don't know where to start. I had a little cry coming down Birdlip Hill (seven miles from Kingsholm).
"I am just a normal bloke from Milton Keynes who happened to play a bit of rugby, and the way people have supported me since my diagnosis means so much.
"The welcome here is humbling and mind-blowing. I have had incredible support from the club.
"After receiving the diagnosis I was in an extraordinarily dark place, and they (Gloucester) have lifted me out of that.
"I did have a cry when we came into Gloucester because a lot has changed for me since the diagnosis. I've had to give up rugby. I've had to give up a lot of things.
"A lot of this challenge was about proving I could still do something which was very difficult, and it nearly broke me."
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