Gabby Logan suffers sad family loss hours before big BBC gig

Gabby Loganhas revealed she suffered a heartbreaking family loss just hours before she was due to present the Women's Rugby World Cupfinal for the BBC, with an emotional day leaving her in tears.

The Welsh presenter was professional as ever as she led coverage from Twickenham and watched England triumph over Canada to win the tournament for a third time. However, the previous day had thrown up two devastating moments that left her needing "a gin and tonic and a bit of a cry".

In an interview with HELLO! magazine, Logan revealed that she had to say goodbye to the family's beloved boxer dog Milo on what had already proven to be an emotionally charged Friday. Admitting she found the experience "very hard", she explained how she turned to husband Kenny for support during Milo's final moments.

• Iconic stadium set for demolition after £172m sale approval granted
• Man Utd news: What dressing room thinks of Ruben Amorim's system as Zidane breaks silence

"When I found out the eldest dog had to be put down, I said to Kenny, 'I can't do this on my own, we're not going to get the whole family together for its, so I need at least you and I'," she said. "We're going to have to have a gin and tonic and a bit of a cry."

The heartache of losing Milo came on the same day that the 52-year-old Match of the Day host waved farewell to her daughter Lois, as she left the family's Buckinghamshire home to embark on her second year at Loughborough University. Despite Lois having initially moved out a year ago for university and her twin brother Reuben also living away after signing with PREM Rugby side Sale Sharks, Logan confessed that adapting to the change has been challenging.

"First year I felt [Lois] was hardly away, so this year will be a long year because the second year is always hard anyway," she said. "It will feel different this next month, because Reuben won't be living at home like he used to, because he was at Northampton [Saints] before, and he used to come home more."

Reflecting on the emotional moment she dropped Lois off at university last September, Logan added: "I cried when she went. Kenny was away, so I did all of that, and we were all fine until we got outside and gave her a hug. Oh my gosh - the tears! She was brilliant, though, and she made a really smooth transition.

"Last year was her first year, she finished her exams in May - so we had her home nearly five months, which is great. I always say she's so easy to live with; she's just so helpful, dropping off parcels, getting my dry-cleaning. It was amazing.

"When Reuben left, it wasn't quite the same," she continued, laughing. "I'm joking, but it was almost easier without him there, I could hoover his room...I found out where all those pots had been hiding. Why are these in your bathroom drawer?

"Lois is very good at keeping in touch. With boys, you've got to be a bit more on them. They will send a message, but you've got to nudge a bit more!".

On adjusting to an empty nest, Logan - who married former Scotland international Kenny in 2001 - admitted it was "going to feel a bit weird" without her children at home, though she added that she has plenty to occupy herself with during the transition period.

"I've got quite a lot of travel with Champions League," she said. "But I'm going to have to watch out, make sure Kenny's occupied. He'll probably come up to Manchester with me and see Reuben and hang out. But it is a transition that you should be prepared for."

It comes after Logan told MailOnline that Reuben's move from Northampton to Manchester to join Sale had been the biggest change" for her family admitting that she and Kenny were "going to really feel" the effect of Lois also leaving to return to Loughborough.

"Reuben moving to Manchester has been the biggest change for us," she said. "When he was at Northampton he could come home after matches. We've had Lois home all summer so, with her gone as well as Reuben, we're going to really feel it this week. But there's also a lot of freedom that comes with this time in your life."