In 2024 Summer Burnett doubted whether she would ever play rugby again after undergoing emergency surgery.
But fast forward to the present day and the back-row has just reached 50 appearances for Garioch and is an inspirational figure for the women’s first team at the club on and off the pitch.
Aberdonian Burnett, now 23, took up the sport in her late teens when she was studying at Robert Gordon University.
She began playing for the university team and, soon after, joined Garioch when one of her friend’s encouraged her to head along to a training session at Kellands Park in Inverurie.
“I loved being part of things at Garioch straight away and rugby soon became my sport,” Burnett explains.
“I’m so glad I followed my friend to Garioch for that training session as the club – and the people involved – are such a huge part of my life now.”
Things could have been very different though.
Burnett continues: “Two years ago – after I’d been playing for a couple of years – there was a point when I genuinely didn’t know if I would ever play rugby again.
“At that time, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and needed emergency surgery to remove my large intestine and form a stoma.
“To say that it knocked me for six would be an understatement.”
Ulcerative colitis is a long-term inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation while a stoma is a surgically created opening on the surface of the abdomen that connects to the digestive or urinary system to help divert waste out of the body.
Naturally, playing contact sports after a stoma is created can be difficult, but Burnett was not going to walk away from rugby without a fight and she worked very hard to get back playing for Garioch safely post the emergency surgery and all that came with it.
“Being able to return to rugby and now having gone on to have made 50 appearances for Garioch means more to me than I can explain, it is a massive milestone in my life,” she said.
“My team mates and coaches at the club are all great friends of mine and they were such a big support throughout my recovery following the emergency surgery and the subsequent stoma and they really helped me get back onto the pitch.
“Sammy Ross, Jess Silcocks and head coach Dave Duguid in particular all went above and beyond at the time to help make playing rugby a possibility for me again and I can’t thank them enough.
“In terms of the stoma, now I pretty much forget I have it when I’m playing. I don’t take any extra precautions except emptying it right before kick-off and there has been no stigma around that at all.
“Sammy and Jess also try make sure there is a stop on the long away trips for me and I am just treated like one of the team and that’s brilliant because this team is full of special humans.
“The girls at the club are like family to me and there’s a genuine feeling at Garioch that everyone wants you to be the best that you can be both on and off the pitch. We support each other no matter what.
“Every time I pull on a Garioch shirt these days I’m reminded of how far I’ve come and I feel incredibly proud to represent the club. Reaching 50 caps is something I’ll always be grateful for.
“Garioch has become a huge part of my life and I honestly wouldn’t be the person I am today without this club.
“It’s more than just rugby to me, it’s a community and a support network that I’m incredibly proud to be part of.”
Burnett’s 51st game for the Inverurie club is set to be on Saturday when they host Heriot’s in the women’s Arnold Clark Premiership.
With the top four/bottom four split coming in November, Garioch are currently fifth and Heriot’s are sixth in the eight-team standings.
It is going to be tricky for either of the sides to make the top four, but accumulating more points in this game is important to keep them away from the relegation place.
“Heriot’s are a physical side and they will be a tough opposition, but they’re no bigger a challenge than some of the other teams we’ve already faced this season and we are excited to be playing at home,” Burnett concluded.
“We’ll be looking to take everything we’ve learnt from our previous games this term into the match and, ultimately, we want to work hard for 80 minutes and give ourselves the best possible chance of coming away with a win.”
Summer Burnett is pictured – thanks to Gareth Falls
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