'Overwhelmed' Wassell relishing return to Scotland squad
After major surgery to remove a tumour that was found in her chest last September, the 30-year-old lock is now targeting August's World Cup in England after being included in the initial 38-woman training squad.
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As she readjusts to the demands of international rugby, the former Loughborough Lightning star admits she's enjoying some lively locker-room banter.
"They keep me very, very humble shall I say," Wassell said.
"I get a lot of grief" Any time the tumour's brought up everyone's like; 'oh, she had a tumour? Who knew?', we joke about it a lot.
"There's a lot of banter around and any time I don't get my way, I try to say; 'guys, I had a tumour', and they're like 'shut up!', so it's pretty light-hearted."
The fact she can now laugh about it all shows not just how far she's come physically, but also mentally. Not that the reintroduction to international-level training has been easy.
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"Something I've found quite overwhelming - given I've trained for three or four months myself – is to now be put back in this environment where all the girls are pushing each other and there's a level of pressure around you.
"It's been a little bit overwhelming but in the best way possible. "
Her aim now is making the final World Cup squad for a tournament she thinks could be a game-changer for Scottish rugby.
"It's the closest I'll definitely get to a home World Cup and I just think it could be huge for women's rugby in general," she added.
"For Scotland, it will really push us on a bit more in terms of growing the game."
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