Iga Swiatek suffered her worst defeat in two years as Jelena Ostapenko breezed past the world number two in straight sets to reach the Qatar Open final.

Ostapenko needed just and hour and eight minutes to wrap up a 6-3 6-1 victory over the five-time Grand Slam champion in Doha.

The last time Swiatek was on the wrong end of such a one-sided match was a 6-2 6-2 loss to Elena Rybakina at Indian Wells in March 2023.

The 23-year-old Pole was on a 15-match winning streak at the Qatar Open and chasing a fourth successive title.

Ostapenko, ranked 37th in the world, has now won all five of her meetings with Swiatek.

"I feel like this court has a special energy," said the Latvian, 27.

"I was pretty confident that I would beat her because we've played a lot of matches and I kind of know how to play against her.

"I'm really happy with the way I'm handling my emotions this week. I'm just so happy to be in the final."

Ostapenko will play Amanda Anisimova in Saturday's final after the American beat Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3 6-3.

Emma Raducanu has taken a wildcard into the Dubai Tennis Championships main draw, where she will seek to end the worst losing run of her career.

The 22-year-old Briton lost a fourth consecutive match for the first time when she was beaten in straight sets by Ekaterina Alexandrova at the Qatar Open last week.

The 2021 US Open champion will be joined by mentor Jane O'Donoghue and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, as she was for that WTA 1000 event in Doha.

Raducanu accepted wildcard entries into the main draw of the Abu Dhabi Open and Qatar Open in February but lost in the first round on both occasions.

Defeat by Alexandrova followed a straight-set loss to former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in Abu Dhabi.

The world number 60 lost to Spain's Cristina Bucsa in the opening round of the Singapore Open in January, after winning just one game in her Australian Open defeat by Iga Swiatek that marked the start of her winless streak.

As the Dubai tournament is a WTA 1000 event, Raducanu faces the prospect of another tough draw with the world's top 10 players all scheduled to play.

The draw takes place on Saturday, before the main draw begins on Sunday.

Munster: Ben O'Connor; Shane Daly, Tom Farrell, Rory Scannell, Diarmuid Kilgallen; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager, Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue (capt), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ellis Mee, Joe Roberts, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies (capt); Kemsley Mathias, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Alec Craig, Jarrod Taylor, Archie Hughes, Charlie Titcombe, Macs Page.

Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)

Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson & Paul Haycock (IRFU)

TMO: Stefano Roscini (FIR)

Tierney has said there are "systemic problems" facing Welsh rugby which "are really hard to change quickly" and that some changes have already been made.

Despite being a director at one of the regions, Jones says there is no option but to cut at least one teams.

"We are not a big enough nation now to have the commercial clout to [have four regions]," he said.

"We probably no longer have the player pipeline that can sustain four clubs. I don't think the union is gong to be able to deliver longer-term the increase in their own revenue if they are going to support the game at club level and regional level."

Regional rugby was established in 2003, initially with five teams before a reduction to four.

"With sadness, we have to come down to three or two regions to reflect the financial realities of Welsh rugby," added Jones.

"Over the years, there's been a fear inside the union of criticism and so difficult decisions get deferred.

"We've seen that with Gatland's dismissal. I think we're going to be seeing it as well with the decision to stay with four regions when, in their gut, they must know that it isn't the right way forward to present a good future for Welsh rugby."

The WRU has said the deal with the regions will "increase finances and other supporting factors to levels which will enable continued success and sustainability long into the future and by 2029".

"This decision to sustain four regional clubs and not reduce in number divides opinion in Wales," said the WRU.

"Many... are supportive and are excited to see what the increased collaboration and investment will bring for Welsh rugby.

"There are equally those who say that either, objectively, the right decision has not been made or that we have lacked decisiveness in general."

England full-back Max Malins will rejoin Saracens from Bristol Bears at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Malins made 36 appearances for the Bears over two spells with the club, scoring 22 tries.

The 28-year-old signed for the club permanently in 2023, having initially joined on loan for the 2020-21 campaign.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my two stints at Bristol this place has become a home away from home for me," Malins said.

Malins is currently recovering from a ruptured Achilles, meaning he has already played his final Bristol match, and admitted that has hampered his time with the Bears.

"It's sad that injury has prevented me from contributing more and knowing I have played my last game in a Bristol shirt. I would have loved to run out with my mates and say goodbye to the fans from the pitch one last time," he added.

"Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing you all down at Ashton Gate for the remaining games and watching what the team can produce for the run-in to the end of the season."

Malins began his career with Saracens, helping them win the Premiership title in his final season before switching to Bristol.

Perhaps most importantly, there is a huge cultural weight placed on rugby.

St Joseph's first team are presented with their festival shirts at a special assembly before singing, some in tears, to the rest of the school.

"It really is as close as you can get to a professional experience or lifestyle, without actually being paid for it," says Wenham.

The RFU has a network of rugby managers to try to embed the game in state schools.

Sixteen of the best compete in the ACE (Academy, Colleges and Education) League. England internationals George Martin, Joe Heyes and Harry Randall all rose up through that route.

But, those institutions are thinly spread and tight on resources.

Private schools, where fees can exceed 50,000 a year, will always have more to invest.

They are not entirely closed shops, however. You can attend, even if you can't pay.

Because top rugby-playing private schools don't just spend on facilities, they also invest in talent, offering highly sought-after scholarships and bursaries which can dramatically reduce fees.

So, while England captain Maro Itoje finished his education at Harrow, bumping up the team's percentage of private-school attendees, he arrived there at 16 on a scholarship from St Georges, a state school in Hertfordshire.

Ollie Lawrence and Tom and Ben Curry similarly finished their education in the private sector, after being awarded scholarships.

St Joseph's recent success story is Emmanuel Iyogun, who now plays for Northampton and has represented England A. He arrived on a scholarship from Woodlands School, a state school in Essex.

England international Anthony Watson and his former club and country team-mate Beno Obano, who went to Dulwich College on a scholarship at 16, valued such schemes so highly they set up their own, funding Harlan Hines' switch from a state school in south-east London to Marlborough College in 2022.

A large proportion of England's elite players may emerge out of private schools, but their talent wasn't necessarily born in them.

There may be fewer scholarships on offer in the future though.

Since January, VAT has been payable on school fees.

The move, which the government predicts will raise billions for state schools, has put pressure on private schools' registers and balance sheets alike.

Various figures in the industry have predicted that scholarships may have to be squeezed.

As headmaster of Mount Kelly School, a private school in Devon, Guy Ayling is already making difficult decisions around awards for pupils.

"Bursaries and scholarships have a cost attached," he says. "That is the bottom line. They are costs like food, utilities and teacher salaries, and it is therefore something we have to consider.

"It is the way of the world moving forward - there is potentially going to be less money in the system and when there is less money in the system, you don't spend as much, including on helping families with financial assistance."

Fewer scholarships would mean more kids in George Paul's position.

The 23-year-old grew up in Peterborough. He played at Wisbech rugby club, but as he and his ambitions grew in the game, he wanted more rugby than his school would provide.

He had a scholarship offer at Wisbech Grammar, a nearby independent school, but with family finances and siblings to consider he didn't take it up.

Instead, aged 15 and finding his club side weakened as other talented kids switched into the private school system, he chased competitive rugby through a different route.