A WALES women’s rugby international and her female business partner have muscled in on the fitness world – with support from the Wales international men’s coach.

Laura Prosser of Penarth and Cara Mifflin have formed a business partnership to open the Atlantic Way CrossFit gym, in Barry, addressing one of the world’s fastest growing fitness trends.

Their business venture has won the approval of British and Irish Lions and Wales Head Coach, Warren Gatland, who attended the Atlantic Trading Estate for a launch-day visit last month.

He toured the facilities as Laura and Cara explained the huge interest in CrossFit which caters for people of all ages.

CrossFit involves training within a class environment using a mix of weightlifting, gymnastics and body weight exercises.

Each session is different and can be adapted under expert supervision to cater for clients of all abilities.

Laura, a rugby scrum half, has won 33 caps for the Wales Women’s team, while Cara Mifflin, 27, is a sports performance analyst who works full time in elite rugby.

Laura, 31, said: ”We are proud to be two women at the heart of a venture which we believe is the ideal format for achieving health and fitness.

“We want to help people get fit and we know from personal experience that CrossFit is the ideal way of achieving your aims.”

“It works for people across a range of ability levels, and the improvements you can achieve are fantastic.”

“CrossFit is a great tool for people who want to maintain a high level of fitness they have already achieved, or equally for those who are keen to embark on a training regime which can really make a positive difference to their lives.”

She added: “We have been told it is unusual for a gym to be run by a female business partnership, but the reality is that fitness and health crosses any gender divide and we all have exactly the same aims.”

“We were delighted that Warren Gatland found the time join us at the launch, as he is certainly someone who knows the importance of working properly to achieve fitness in the correct environment with proper supervision and help. We’re also hugely grateful for the support we’ve received.”

Laura discovered CrossFit in 2012, and recently left her job as a custodial manager at Cardiff Prison to fulfil her dream of opening her own gym.