/** * https://gist.github.com/samthor/64b114e4a4f539915a95b91ffd340acc */ (function() { var check = document.createElement('script'); if (!('noModule' in check) && 'onbeforeload' in check) { var = false; document.addEventListener('beforeload', function(e) { if (e.target === check) { = true; } else if (!e.target.hasAttribute('nomodule') || !) { return; } e.preventDefault(); }, true); check.type = 'module'; check.src = '.'; document.head.appendChild(check); check.remove(); } }());

Wassell 'has so much to fight for' after tumour scare

Emma Wassell smilesSNS

Emma Wassell is on the comeback trail after a traumatic absence

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Guinness Women's Six Nations: Scotland v Ireland

Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 26 April Kick-off: 14:30 BST

Coverage: 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 get.

To recap the story of the 30-year-old, 67-time capped Scotland lock - last September a tumour (mercifully, benign) was discovered in her chest.

Then there was a bleed on the tumour. Then 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 lung.

She wanted to call out for her mum, but Pauline had died suddenly earlier in the year.

Whenever you hear the phrase '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 around her in and out of hospital like a gang of protective sisters.

And 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.

Emma Wassell on the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast

23/04/25

Listen on Sounds

"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 but I'm ready to get stuck in.

"The last thing that really needs to be ticked off is bone-on-bone , 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 so excited."

Wassell 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">