Scotland star Emma Wassell says she will be “on the sidelines for the foreseeable future” after having an operation on a wrist injury.
Last Saturday, the 31-year-old Trailfinders Women’s player became just the seventh female player in Scottish rugby history to reach 80 caps for her country.
However, she came off in the 47th minute of the 66-14 defeat to New Zealand at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh and was replaced by fellow north-east reared second-row Sarah Bonar in the WXV Global Series clash.
On Wednesday, Scottish Rugby released a statement saying that Wassell would be missing this coming weekend’s home match with Australia and then the two Tests down under versus the Wallaroos next month.
Taking to social media later on Wednesday, Wassell said: “In a whirlwind 72 hours I played my 80th game for Scotland against the Black Ferns, ruptured the ligaments in my right wrist then had an operation to pin it all back together.
“Now I am casted for 10 weeks and a pretty rough realisation I’ll be back on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.
“Laoch down, not out…”
In 2024, Wassell discovered a tumour in her chest which required major surgery.
She made it back, remarkably, to play at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, but then missed the first half of the 2025/26 English top flight season with a knee injury. She then returned to play for Trailfinders and Scotland throughout 2026 until this latest setback.
Centre Rachel Philipps has also been ruled out of the Scotland-Australia match this weekend due to concussion protocols and has been replaced in the wider squad by Holly McIntyre.
With Wassell and Philipps missing the crucial WXV match with Australia it means that they are definitely without them plus Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie, Emily Coubrough, Lucia Scott and Alex Stewart.
Next up in the final game of the Vodafone Scotland WXV Series campaign – part of the wider WXV Global Series presented by Mitsubishi Electric featuring the top sides in the world – for Scotland is Australia this coming Saturday at the Hive.
Scotland’s away WXV Global Series fixtures will take place against Australia on October 17 and October 23.
Emma Wassell is pictured in hospital this week – thanks to Emma Wassell on Instagram
It is shaping up to be an exciting 2026/27 season for women’s rugby in Scotland and GH Media will be covering it in detail – if any companies are keen to support this content please send an email to gary@gh-media.co.uk