LONDON (AP) Heartbreaking sports injuries before major events are as fated as sunset. The Womens Rugby World Cup is no different.
Charlotte Caslick gave up the captaincy of Australias world champion sevens team to be a World Cup Wallaroo but withdrew from the squad this month after running out of time rehabbing the right ankle she broke last month. However, shes on standby for the knockout rounds.
In tune-ups against Ireland this month, Canada flanker Pamphinette Buisa injured her arm and was ruled out a week before the World Cup, and Scotland fullback Lucia Scott broke her hand and had to drop out.
Ireland suffered its own major blows in April when two key flankers went down; Erin King, the world breakthrough player of 2024, to a knee injury, and Dorothy Wall to an Achilles tendon injury.
But some players do manage to come back, and heres their stories.
Emily Scarratt, England
Scarratt became the first Englishwoman to appear in five World Cups last Friday in the opening win over the United States , but that was far from a certainty.
She went under the knife in September 2023, her neck opened up and windpipe moved aside to replace a disc pressing on her spinal cord. Scarratt suffered the injury in January that year, but mixed medical advice and the thought of surgery delayed her green light for it until it became an issue of prolonging her life, let alone her rugby career.
The operation was a success.
But after 13 months off the rugby field, and despite starting in the World Cup finals of 2010, 2014, 2017 and 2022, the center discovered she was no longer a starter for England, and sometimes not even a bench player. She was, however, good enough to get into the World Cup squad. The 35-year-old described her historic fifth selection as super cool.
Coming back from neck surgery has made Scarratt feel more free. In a strange way, she told the England Rugby website, it felt like a second chance.
Her greatness is already certified: A 10-time Six Nations winner and the all-time leading point-scorer for England, the Six Nations and the World Cup.
Emily brings more than just experience, England coach John Mitchell said. She understands the legacy of the Red Roses and brings leadership to the younger players. Shes very calm in demeanour and just leads by example. She wants to leave the Red Roses in a better place.
Sophie de Goede, Canada
Barely a month had passed since Canadas historic first test win over world champion New Zealand when captain Sophie de Goede tore her ACL while in camp with the national sevens squad in California.
That was in June 2024.
De Goede made her test comeback last month, 13 months later, off the bench to help Canada put daylight on South Africa to complete a two-test series win in Gqeberha.
The injury was cruelly timed. She missed Canada winning the Olympic sevens silver medal in Paris, the WXV 1 and Pacific Four.
The goalkicking forward made enough of an impression in the first half of 2024, however, to make World Rugbys annual womens dream team , two years after her first dream team pick and first nomination for world player of the year.
When Canada finally recalled her, she told the Canadian Press It has been a really long, long, tough year. Ill be a lot stronger for it, mentally and physically, coming out the other side.
De Goede led Canada to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup but hasnt been restored to the captaincy since her injury. As de Goede is still getting up to speed, center Alex Tessier leads Canada in this World Cup.
Her talismanic status in the squad was undimmed, though. She came flying around off a lineout ball to score Canadas opening try against Fiji on Saturday in York and kicked four conversions in the 65-7 win.
It felt good to just get a strong start under my belt, trying to feel more comfortable coming back from injury, de Goede said. That was a nice way to kick it off.
Brianna Hoy, Australia
Like Sophie de Goede, Brianna Hoy tore her ACL in training, too, while with Australia in Belfast for the WXV 2 last September.
The loosehead prop didnt play another test until last Saturday in Manchester, where she made her World Cup debut off the bench in Australias 73-0 win over Samoa.
At the time of the injury, Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp said, Its heartbreaking. Shes an extremely popular member of the squad. Shes kind, caring and professional in everything she does.
Hoy excelled in training to earn Yapps faith again, and at last weeks announcement of the team to play Samoa her name received the biggest cheer among the squad.
After playing 33 minutes on Saturday, Hoy admitted to doubting she would reach the World Cup, especially as the ACL tear was the second of her career.
Im just ecstatic to be able to lace the boots up again and take the field with my team, she said.
Its been worth it. I mean, anyone thats been through a longer-term injury, you have those ups and downs, physically, emotionally and mentally, where you do doubt yourself, whether you are going to get to your goal. The feeling of running on with my mates, I was ecstatic to be there, and I was just super confident and proud of the hard work the team and myself have put in to get to that point.
Emma Wassell, Scotland
Emma Wassell went to the hospital with what she thought was bread stuck in the back of her throat.
Instead, doctors found a benign tumor in her chest.
Three months later in November 2024, Wassell had the tumor removed . It was a traumatic time. Her mother died just months earlier.
Scotland rugbys ironwoman she played a record 54 consecutive tests received an outpouring of support from the community and, after two weeks in hospital, made the World Cup a goal which drove her recovery.
Her biggest test came in training. The first hit to her chest shook her.
I got a scare and I almost had to feel it and realise Im fine, Im absolutely fine, she told the BBC. I had a wee cry and then it was about just taking a couple of days and then back into it. And then I realised, OK, its on, were ready.
Wassell played her first test in 454 days last month, an emotional start in a warmup against Italy. She went for 62 minutes.
She played her 70th test on Saturday in her second World Cup as Scotland beat Wales 38-8 in Manchester.
Wassell said shes grateful to get where she has but doesnt want the tumor to define her.
We joke a lot about it, she told the BBC. I say, I do actually play rugby, I didnt just have a tumor. Theres more to me, I swear. I dont want anyone to think any differently (of me) other than shes a pretty good rugby player.
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AP rugby:
伦敦（美联社）——重大赛事前令人心碎的运动伤病如同日落般不可避免。女子橄榄球世界杯也不例外。
夏洛特·卡斯里克（Charlotte Caslick）为参加世界杯袋鼠女队（Wallaroo）而放弃了澳大利亚世界冠军七人制橄榄球队的队长职务，但因上月右脚踝骨折后康复时间不足，于本月退出阵容。不过她仍将作为替补队员待命淘汰赛阶段。
在本月对阵爱尔兰的热身赛中，加拿大侧翼球员潘菲内特·布伊萨手臂受伤，世界杯开赛前一周确定无法参赛；苏格兰后卫露西娅·斯科特手部骨折，被迫退出比赛。
爱尔兰队在四月遭遇重创，两名核心侧翼球员因伤退赛：2024年度世界突破球员**埃琳·金**（Erin King）膝盖受伤，**多萝西·沃尔**（Dorothy Wall）则跟腱受伤。
但仍有一些球员成功重返赛场，以下是他们的故事。
埃米莉·斯卡拉特（英格兰）
在上周五战胜美国队的揭幕战中，斯卡拉特（Scarratt）成为首位参加五届世界杯的英格兰女球员，但这一成就来之不易。
2023年9月，斯卡拉特（Scarratt）接受了颈部手术，医生切开她的颈部并将气管移开，以更换压迫脊髓的椎间盘。她在当年1月受伤，但由于医疗意见不一以及对手术的顾虑，迟迟未能获得批准，直到病情发展到关乎生命延续的地步，更遑论她的橄榄球职业生涯了。
手术取得了成功。
尽管这位中锋曾出战2010年、2014年、2017年和2022年世界杯决赛，但在阔别橄榄球赛场13个月后，她发现自己已不再是英格兰队的首发球员，有时甚至无法进入替补名单。不过，她仍凭借实力入选了世界杯阵容。这位35岁的老将将自己史无前例的第五次入选形容为「超级酷」。
从颈部手术中恢复后，斯卡拉特（Scarratt）感到更加自由。她向英格兰橄榄球官网表示：\“这种感觉很奇妙，就像获得了第二次生命。\”
她的卓越成就早已得到公认：作为10次六国赛冠军得主，她同时保持着英格兰队、六国赛及世界杯的历史总得分纪录。
英格兰队教练约翰·米切尔表示："艾米丽带来的远不止经验。她深刻理解红玫瑰军团的传统，并为年轻队员树立了领导风范。她举止沉稳，以身作则，立志让红玫瑰军团更上一层楼。"
索菲·德古德（加拿大）
加拿大队历史性地首次战胜世界冠军新西兰队尚不足一个月，队长索菲·德古德就在加利福尼亚州随国家七人制橄榄球队集训时前十字韧带撕裂。
那是在2024年6月。
德古德（De Goede）在上个月时隔13个月后复出参赛，作为替补登场帮助加拿大队拉开与南非队的差距，最终在伊丽莎白港（Gqeberha）以两场测试赛的胜利结束系列赛。
这次受伤的时机令人痛心。她因此错过了加拿大队在巴黎奥运会七人制橄榄球赛中获得银牌、WXV 1赛事以及太平洋四国赛的夺冠时刻。
这位擅长射门的锋线球员在2024年上半年表现出色，成功入选世界橄榄球协会年度女子梦之队。这是她首次入选梦之队并提名年度最佳球员两年后，再度获此殊荣。
当加拿大最终召她回国时，她对加拿大通讯社表示：“这是非常漫长而艰难的一年。但经历这一切后，无论是心理还是身体上，我都会变得更加强大。”
德古德在2022年世界杯上率领加拿大队闯入半决赛，但自受伤后一直未能恢复队长职务。由于德古德仍在调整状态，本届世界杯由中锋亚历克斯·泰西尔担任加拿大队队长。
尽管如此，她在队中的核心地位依然稳固。上周六在约克对阵斐济的比赛中，她接边线球后快速突破，为加拿大队首开纪录，并在65比7的大胜中贡献了四次附加射门得分。
德古德表示："能在复出后迅速进入状态感觉很好，我正在努力适应伤愈归来的过程。这样的开局方式很棒。"
布里安娜·霍伊（澳大利亚）
与索菲·德古德（Sophie de Goede）类似，布丽安娜·霍伊（Brianna Hoy）去年9月随澳大利亚队在贝尔法斯特参加WXV 2比赛期间，也在训练中撕裂了前十字韧带（ACL）。
这位松头支柱球员直到上周六在曼彻斯特的比赛中才再次登场，她在澳大利亚队以73比0大胜萨摩亚队的比赛中替补出场，完成了自己的世界杯首秀。
瓦拉鲁队教练乔·亚普在受伤事件发生时表示：“这令人心碎。她是队里极受欢迎的成员，无论做什么都展现出善良、体贴和专业的态度。”
霍伊在训练中表现出色，重新赢得了雅普的信任。在上周公布对阵萨摩亚队的阵容时，她的名字在队伍中赢得了最热烈的欢呼。
周六出战33分钟后，霍伊坦言曾怀疑自己能否参加世界杯，尤其这是她职业生涯中第二次遭遇前十字韧带撕裂。
她说：“能再次系上靴带，与队友并肩作战，我欣喜若狂。”
这一切都是值得的。我的意思是，任何经历过长期伤病的人都会在身体、情绪和心理上经历起伏，甚至怀疑自己能否实现目标。但当我与队友们并肩奔跑时，那种感觉让我欣喜若狂。我充满信心，并为团队和我自己为实现这一目标所付出的艰辛努力感到无比自豪。
埃玛·瓦塞尔（苏格兰）
埃玛·瓦塞尔因感觉喉咙后部卡了面包而前往医院就诊。
然而，医生在她的胸腔中发现了一个良性肿瘤。
2024年11月，即三个月后，瓦塞尔（Wassell）接受了肿瘤切除手术。那是一段痛苦的时期——她的母亲在数月前刚刚离世。
苏格兰橄榄球队的“铁娘子”——她曾创下连续54场测试赛的出场纪录——在住院两周期间获得社会各界如潮水般的支持，并将世界杯作为激励自己康复的目标。
她在训练中遭遇了最大的考验。第一记重击直击胸口，令她浑身震颤。
“我吓了一跳，几乎要亲身感受才能确认自己没事，我真的完全没事，”她告诉英国广播公司。“我小小地哭了一场，然后花了两三天调整，就重新投入其中。接着我意识到：好了，一切就绪，我们准备好了。”
瓦塞尔（Wassell）在上个月迎来了她454天以来的首次测试赛，在与意大利队的热身赛中激动开场，并出战了62分钟。
周六，在曼彻斯特举行的比赛中，苏格兰队以38比8战胜威尔士队，这是她第二次参加世界杯，也是她的第70场测试赛。
沃塞尔（Wassell）表示，她对自己取得的成就心怀感激，但不愿让肿瘤成为定义自己的标签。
“我们经常拿这事开玩笑，”她告诉英国广播公司（BBC），“我会说，‘我可是真的打橄榄球的，不只是得过肿瘤。我发誓，我的人生不止于此。’我不希望别人对我有任何其他看法，只希望他们认为我是个相当不错的橄榄球运动员。”
美联社橄榄球专题：