Wallaroos star back-rower Piper Duck is keeping her World Cup dreams alive as she battles back from shoulder injuries.
Duck suffered AC joint injuries in both her shoulders as she played through the pain, only to dislocate her left shoulder in a separate incident.
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The 24-year-old sought out every surgeon’s advice to make sure she was still available for September’s hallmark event, having to rehab both injuries at the same time.
“It was very frustrating, but it's tracking really well. I'm about five weeks in now,” she told Rugby.com.au. “I go into Waratahs every day saying I feel ready and great, and kept getting told no, but I would love to have the chance to come back into the fold after Pacific Four.”
Duck has had a wretched run of injuries, which infamously kept her from captaining the Wallaroos after being unveiled as skipper in 2023.
“It can be really difficult, I'm going to be completely honest. Especially when I did my shoulder, I was probably quite upset for a little bit there because I have been through quite a few injuries, and I think the most important thing is to understand that it's okay to feel that way for a moment,” the Waratahs captain reflects.
“For me, it's been understanding that this has happened to me (and) it's a really unfortunate feeling that maybe being a little bit upset about it, but for me, especially over these past two and a half years where I have sustained quite a lot of injuries, it's just reminding myself why.
“My way definitely has shifted over these last two years because I think growing up, experiencing different things, I've learned to love why I actually love rugby. It's not that I took it for granted, but when something isn't taken away from you…genuinely understand the love I have for it.”
Duck is eyeing off a return for the Wales Tests, which leaves her just two games to break into a red-hot Wallaroos squad for the World Cup.
“I don’t want to miss a World Cup, but saying that, I'm also not silly and if I realistically couldn’t have been fit and healthy, I don't wanna let my team and the girls down,” she said.
“I don't wanna go into that hindering the team.”
Duck is motivated by the team's recent success, fresh off their fifth win in six games.
“It’s extremely motivating and it makes me very proud to be a part of that group,” Duck added.
“It's something we've been building towards now for the past two years, and to finally see it coming through…we have had such confidence in ourselves, and to now see that coming onto the paddock is just really exciting.”
