Gary Heatly in Manchester
Emma Wassell says it was “very special” to be back in Women’s Rugby World Cup action for Scotland versus Wales last weekend – and now she wants to kick on against Fiji.
Second-row Wassell, 30, will earn cap number 71 against the Fijians at the Salford Community Stadium in Manchester on Saturday (2.45pm, live on BBC Two).
That is the same ground where Scotland got their Pool B campaign off to a flyer against the Welsh with a 38-8 bonus point triumph.
Wassell had to deal with the passing of her mother Pauline last April.
Then, last August, she spent nearly two weeks in hospital after a tumour in her chest was discovered during Scotland’s 2024/25 pre-season training block.
She then had one operation before a second, a full sternotomy, came in November.
At that stage she was not sure if she would ever be playing at a World Cup again having previously played in one in New Zealand in 2022.
However, she is now back after two Summer Tests and the Welsh game and she said: “It was very special to play against Wales.
“I think the two warm-up games were probably just a good reminder that I can still do it, but to kind of be back playing on the world stage at probably one of the biggest rugby events that I’ll ever play in was very special.
“I still think personally I can get better, I still strive to be better for myself and for Scotland and ultimately that’s what this whole squad’s goal is.
“That shows how driven we are individually and that is why we perform the way we do as a team.
“Hopefully going forward I can be more Emma the rugby player and the history of my health is behind me.”
There was a slight scare when Wassell had to come off after a minute versus Wales to get stitches to a cut on her face, but she returned to the fold.
“It was the first tackle of the game and I was like ‘no, you’re kidding me’,” she explained.
“When I was with the medics I was thinking ‘I’d better get back on this pitch, because I’m not making up my World Cup return for 30 odd seconds, I’m just not doing it’.
“They only managed to get three stitches in, in the time. So I went back with three stitches, and then after the game, got an extra three stitches. In that moment, that 15 minutes, I was in myself.
“I got three stitches and went back on and then after the game had another three and it is all fine now.”
Elis Martin coming in at hooker for the injured Lana Skeldon is the only change to the starting XV for the Fiji game with loosehead prop Anne Young and second-row Adelle Ferrie coming onto the bench as Molly Wright shifts to the 16 shirt to cover hooker and Jade Konkel is injured.
The win over the Welsh now makes Scotland favourites to progress to the quarter-finals from Pool B behind likely group winners Canada. That would mean a probable knock-out tie with world number one side England on September 14.
However, there is a lot of rugby to be played before then and, after Fiji, there is a meeting with world number two Canada in Exeter on September 6.
Scotland squad to play Fiji: Chloe Rollie; Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Francesca McGhie; Helen Nelson, Leia Brebner-Holden; Leah Bartlett, Elis Martin, Elliann Clarke, Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar, Rachel Malcolm (C), Rachel McLachlan, Evie Gallagher. Subs: Molly Wright, Anne Young, Lisa Cockburn, Adelle Ferrie, Eva Donaldson, Alex Stewart, Caity Mattinson, Beth Blacklock.
The Fiji matchday 23 is here.
Emma Wassell is pictured in action versus Wales – thanks to N50 Photography
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.