There is never a good time to suffer an ACL injury. Sam Monaghan experienced hers last June, just 18 minutes into the Premiership Women’s Rugby final while starting for Gloucester Hartpury, forcing her off the field in her club’s most important game of the season.
An entire season has been lost since then. Ireland went on to have a successful WXV1s tournament in Canada, defeating world champions New Zealand, followed by a Six Nations campaign.
But fortunately, Monaghan’s long journey back to fitness has concluded just in time for the World Cup. She is set to wear the green jersey again for Saturday’s warm-up match against Scotland in Cork.
“Seeing my name on the teamsheet again was incredibly emotional, not just for me, but for my family, teammates, and everyone who supported me along the way: the physios, the strength and conditioning staff. It was a long and challenging road, much longer than I anticipated.”
“Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel was special and afforded me opportunities. While I missed the Six Nations, I got to experience it from the stands, witnessing firsthand the power of the girls’ performances on the pitch.”
“Hopefully, I can contribute value on Saturday to what they’ve been building over the last few years. This year has been fantastic for us. Though the Six Nations didn’t end as we hoped, I feel we’ve had a very strong pre-season, and we’re excited for Saturday.”
Others have also faced devastating injuries at the worst possible time.
Erin King’s knee injury against England in the Six Nations dashed her World Cup hopes. Dorothy Wall suffered a similar fate that same month, being helped off the field against Scotland with an Achilles injury.
Both are crucial players in Scott Bemand’s Ireland pack, and their absence will be felt in England in August and September. While the collective impact is significant, the blow is particularly harsh for the players themselves.
King has expressed the unfairness of the situation, while Wall described herself as devastated at the time.
“Injuries are always incredibly tough,” said Monaghan. “We have such a strong bond as a group, so when we lose someone, we feel it deeply, both on and off the pitch, as they are such significant characters. But they are both working incredibly hard, and I know how arduous the journey back can be.”
“Having recently recovered from a long injury myself, I am truly gutted for them, but I have no doubt they’ll return stronger. High-level sport… It has provided an opportunity for someone else to step up, and we’ve seen other girls come in and perform exceptionally well.”
Monaghan will be returning to the second row position as captain for the game at Virgin Media Park. The team represents a balance between experience and youth, with Ivana Kiripati debuting in the back row and Nancy McGillivray in the centre.
Ailish Quinn is also expected to make her debut off the bench. The captain is aware of what is required.
“You have to try and empathize with them, recalling your own first cap and how you felt. This is such an incredible group, with so many leaders empowering each other.”
“We truly support each other, offering encouragement and a helping hand. It’s about empowering those girls to perform as they have been in preseason, giving them the confidence to showcase their abilities on the pitch on Saturday.”
