Latest news with #EmmaWassell
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Emma Wassell returns to Scotland squad for World Cup after chest tumour
Emma Wassell has been included in Scotland's Women's Rugby World Cup training squad after recovering from a benign tumour in her chest. The 30-year-old, who has 67 caps, has not been involved in the national set-up since last year. Scotland head coach Bryan Easson has picked an extended 38-player squad as he begins preparations for the tournament, which takes place in England in August. Easson has included four uncapped players – Aila Ronald, Hannah Ramsay, Hannah Walker and Meg Varley – all of whom trained with the squad through the Guinness Women's Six Nations. Easson said: 'We've named a strong, competitive group that blends hard-earned experience with exciting young talent. 'I was particularly pleased with how our debutants and uncapped players performed during the Guinness Women's Six Nations – both in training and in matches – and this window gives them a chance to step up and show us more. 'It's also fantastic to welcome back Emma Wassell, Coreen Grant, Hollie Cunningham, and Meg Varley, all of whom have worked hard to return from injury and are now fit and available for selection. Their return adds even greater strength and competition to the squad.' Scotland kick off their campaign against Wales at Salford Community Stadium on August 23 and also face Fiji and Canada in the pool stage. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Wassell back in Scotland fold after tumour surgery
Emma Wassell returns to the Scotland squad after missing all of the 2024-25 season following surgery to remove a tumour from her 67 times, the 30-year-old second row from Aberdeen is included in a 38-strong extended training group as preparations begin for the World Cup in England in Cunningham and Coreen Grant are back from injuries and there are places for the uncapped quartet of Aila Ronald, Hannah Ramsay, Hannah Walker and Meg was diagnosed with a benign tumour in September last year, with two procedures required to remove it."The health is very good," she told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast in late April. "I feel ready to keep pushing on. "Mentally, I was worried about how I was going to feel doing contact but I'm ready to get stuck in." The squad will be in camp throughout June, with 32 making the cut for the tournament, where Scotland will take on Canada, Wales and Fiji in the pool stage."As we saw through this year's Six Nations, there are good players missing out on selection and I think that's testament to the depth we've developed, the consistency of performances, and the competitive standard being set week in and week out," said head coach Bryan Easson."As we move into this crucial preparation period, we're focused on sharpening every detail and pushing ourselves to the next levels. The months ahead are vital as we build towards the summer."We've named a strong, competitive group that blends hard-earned experience with exciting young talent."It's also fantastic to welcome back Emma Wassell, Coreen Grant, Hollie Cunningham, and Meg Varley, all of whom have worked hard to return from injury and are now fit and available for selection. Their return adds even greater strength and competition to the squad." Scotland training squad Forwards: Leah Bartlett, Gemma Bell, Becky Boyd, Sarah Bonar, Elliann Clarke, Hollie Cunningham, Lisa Cockburn, Eva Donaldson, Evie Gallagher, Adelle Ferrie, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm, Elis Martin, Rachel McLachlan, Aila Ronald, Molly Poolman, Lana Skeldon, Alex Stewart, Emma Wassell, Molly Wright, Anne Leia Brebner-Holden, Beth Blacklock, Rhea Clarke, Coreen Grant, Rhona Lloyd, Caity Mattinson, Francesca McGhie, Helen Nelson, Rachel Philipps, Hannah Ramsay, Chloe Rollie, Lucia Scott, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Hannah Walker, Evie Wills, Meg Varley.
Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Times
Murrayfield at 100: Walking in the footsteps of Scotland great JB Nelson
Almost exactly 100 years since her late grandfather JB 'Jimmy' Nelson scored the first try at Murrayfield, Julie Beavan followed in his footsteps (up to a point) by stepping onto the hallowed turf before the recent men's Six Nations game against Wales. There was no sublime hand-off of an opposition defender and canter under the posts, and certainly no championship title to toast, but Beavan still thrilled to her moment. As part of the famous old stadium's centenary celebrations, the SRU had invited her to deliver the match ball alongside Emma Wassell, the Scotland lock who has recovered from treatment for a chest tumour in time to feature at the World Cup later this year. As she strode out into the arena where Nelson touched
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Scotland must find their inner 'dog' in vital finale
Emma Wassell says Scotland have "wrongs to right" in their "vital" final game of the Women's Six Nations against Ireland on suffered a damaging loss at home to Italy in round three, Bryan Easson's side have only one win from four having targeted three victories this now host an improving Ireland who had a seismic win over New Zealand last year. The Irish have won two from four in a tournament that is especially important given the World Cup takes place in England in Wassell, whose return to rugby is progressing following operations to remove a tumour in her chest last autumn, has called on her team-mates to find their inner-dog against the Irish."You can't really coach bringing out the dog," the 30-year-old told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast. "Sometimes you need something that can bring that out and individual players just need to find what it is."This game is vital. Ultimately, you could see us bottom of the table [if results go against them] and that's the honest truth of it."The disappointing and unexpected loss to Italy in Edinburgh was the day Scotland's campaign went off track, Wassell added: "I don't think it was really us out there. It felt quite flat. Why that is, I don't think we're 100% sure. Verbally, no one was complacent, but mentally, have we almost assumed that we would win that game? It's hard to really pinpoint it."Everyone knew it wasn't good enough. I think we have a few wrongs to right. Sometimes before a game it's very easy to go into your shell and I think we need players to express themselves out there."I know the capabilities of this squad. So, yes, fans may be frustrated, but it's really hard and the players feel it more than ever."
BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wassell 'has so much to fight for' after tumour scare
Guinness Women's Six Nations: Scotland v IrelandVenue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick-off: 14:30 BSTCoverage: Watch live on BBC Scotland, iPlayer & online, follow live text and watch video highlights on BBC Sport website & app On the face of it, it's not the most exhilarating of news stories - 'rugby player returns to training, now hitting tackle bags' - but in Emma Wassell's case it's as close to a sporting miracle as you are likely to recap the story of the 30-year-old, 67-times capped Scotland lock - last September a tumour (mercifully, benign) was discovered in her chest, then there was a bleed on the tumour, then there was the first surgery to remove part of the tumour, then a second surgery to remove the rest, a procedure that involved the collapsing of a wanted to call out for her mum, but Pauline had sadly passed away suddenly earlier in the year. Whenever you hear 'rugby family' being used in the parlance of the game the temptation is to brand it a cliche, but in Wassell's case, it's not. Her team-mates rallied round her in, and out, of hospital like a large gang of protective now here she is at Murrayfield, the picture of health and talking about the comeback, which she hopes will happen before the World Cup in England in August."The health is very good," the second row said on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast."I've been running for four weeks now. I'm able to hit bags and hit the deck. I feel ready to keep pushing on. Mentally, I was worried about how I was going to feel doing contact, but I'm ready to get stuck in."The last thing that really needs ticked off is bone-on-bone contact, which we might trickle into very, very soon. We're honestly a few weeks short of playing. I tried very hard to push for the Ireland match [on Saturday] but there was no need to risk it. Focus on the World Cup. There's so much to play for and I'm just so excited." She was only 29 when all of this was happening. Her energy and positivity, her absolute love of the game and her appreciation of what it's given her, is a sight to behold."Everyone's like, 'how did you get through?' I do believe everyone would be the same," she explains. "You don't have a choice. When it's happening to you, you have no choice other than to get through it."I'm in a fortunate position. I have so much to fight for. For me, a huge motivator is playing for Scotland."The surgeon heard it many times. When I got told I was going to need a sternotomy, I went, 'I'll be able to play rugby again, right?' They're like, 'just be grateful you're alive'. Yes, I had a very serious operation, but I believe I've been really lucky in this whole situation. I don't know how you get through it, but you do."I always had this bigger picture of, 'I have been given this shot again to be able to play again', which I thought at one point was going to be taken away. There was a point where I thought I might never play rugby again. That's what broke me." Getting the boots on again was the driving force. There's no naivety here. She knows there's still a distance to travel between getting well and getting back in the Test doesn't just want to come back, she wants to come back as a better version of her old self. That alone will be a challenge. Wassell played 54 consecutive games for Scotland at her peak. Beat that. "Hopefully this thing has given me a few extra years," she laughs."Sometimes you cannot control your health but everything I've been able to control, I believe I've done. The goal is no sweeter than a World Cup, is it? That's the ultimate. Some of the girls have given me a bit of stick. 'You're just wrapping yourself in cotton wool to get there!'"The details of her treatment is the stuff of nightmares. "The scariest bit was when I didn't know what it was and they didn't know how they were going to operate so I obviously had to get all these biopsies," she explains."They initially went through my neck to get the biopsy and they couldn't get enough cells so then they had to go through my ribcage to get under my sternum to get into the main part of the tumour to get enough cells to be able to get a biopsy."When you're going through the rib to make sure that you don't cause any damage, you have to collapse a lung to get there. When I woke up after these biopsies, I would say that was one of the hardest moments. My body was in all sorts of pain. I couldn't understand why I couldn't breathe properly, I had chest drains in which were extremely sore and I was in the high dependency ward in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary."There was a lot of very, very sick people in there and that was when I was scared. I'm almost crying out for…well…I didn't have my mum there. She was a ray of sunshine in a room, a typically embarrassing proud mum. She was always watching me play. Honestly, with binoculars, couldn't bloody see a thing. Didn't know the rules. Didn't matter. She was there, a constant."A lot of the reason why I wear a headband was so she could spot me. It was hard enough telling my brother about being sick because I didn't want to put him through that. I would have hated putting my mum through it."Enter the Scotland team as auxiliary nurses. "I live my life with a lot of humour so even when I am lying in my hospital bed with tubes coming out of me, please crack a joke," she says."And they did and sometimes I would crack the joke and they'd be like, 'can we laugh? We don't know'. We've been through a hell of a lot. It's not just me. We've been through a huge journey together."Wassell joked with them that she'd be back in time for the Ireland game and the reaction was hilarious. Don't even think about it, was the hysterical gist. They weren't emotionally ready for her return. They wouldn't be able to a warm-up game ahead of the World Cup is the hope and the plan. No matter where it is and no matter who it's against, it will be special. The thought of it got her through the most awful time in her life and it feels more real now than at any point since illness got she keeps the tears at bay that day then she might be the only one.
