Ex-Ireland star opens up on shock retirement after cancer diagnosis

Former Ireland international flanker Shannon Ikahihifo has opened up on her shock retirement from the game last year after getting diagnosed with breast cancer.

The former Ealing Trailfinders forward was born and raised in New Zealand, but qualified for Ireland through her Kilkenny-born Grandmother. She went on to win three caps for the Girls in Green after making her debut in 2024.

She had been part of the training squad ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, but withdrew from the squad and ultimately retired after learning of her cancer diagnosis in August 2025.

She initially admitted she was in denial about the lump on her breast, but eventually got it checked, and she fairly soon after received chemotherapy in October.

She then underwent a lumpectomy and radiotherapy earlier this year before being told she was cancer-free, but admitted that she had no choice but to step away from rugby aged just 31.

Speaking to Doireann Garrihy on RTÉ 2FM Mornings, Ikahihifo said: ‘The decision was kind of made for me, if I’m honest.

‘I remember talking to oncologists kind of saying, “Oh, you know, when do you think I can be back?” or “what’s kind of the game plan there?” She said, technically, you could be back, but the radiotherapy has most likely made your bones significantly less dense.

‘And so, if you do go back to play contact sport, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll break your ribs. And so as much as I love rugby, I think I’d rather be a bit more sensible and take care of my body kind of, you know, from here on out.

Ikahihifo admitted that retirement had been on her mind prior to the diagnosis, but felt she still had a couple more years to give.

‘I knew before this diagnosis that I was kind of getting to the end of my professional rugby career,’ she stated.

‘And so in my head I’m telling myself that it’s okay, we’re only cutting it short, maybe a year or two earlier than what I would have planned.

‘It is a bit tough, but also I’m trying to tell myself that there are a lot of other cool opportunities and ways to stay fit and to stay active and to keep moving. And so I’m trying to see it as a bit more of a positive, maybe some other doors to open and to enjoy some other sports, because it has been a huge part of my life for a long time now.’