Brianna Hoy has been desperate to get back out on the field in the Wallaroo jersey, after an ACL injury sustained during a training session in the WXV campaign last year sidelined her for 10 months.
It has been a long journey back for the Waratahs prop, missing all of Super Rugby Women’s and the Pacific Four Series - while hopes to return for the final pre-Rugby World Cup fixtures against New Zealand and Wales were dashed.
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However, with Hoy now back in full training, she is excited to make up for lost time after being included on the plane to England.
“It's been really exciting, to be honest,” Hoy said to Rugby.com.au.
“Obviously, with injuries, you wish you were out there, but I think the beauty of this team is that we're all team first, and I've just been so proud of being a person who's been able to play on the field with them, but then also go back to my roots and be an absolute fangirl from the side and watch from the stands.
“[I’m] just amazed at the progress this team is making. Hopefully I'll be out there soon.
“I've been in full training now for a few weeks, and the knee's holding up really well. Obviously, 10-and-a-half months ago, we had a goal, and that was to be standing here at this point.
“With the support of a really great team, medical staff, teammates, family and friends, I've been able to put my best foot forward.”
Despite not getting on the park, Hoy has been right in the action watching the growth of the Wallaroos over the course of Jo Yapp’s tenure.
With England set to be her maiden World Cup as a Wallaroo, it still hasn’t set in for the 25-year-old.
“I think until I'm on that plane, it's going to take a little bit to still set in,” Hoy acknowledged.
“It's this event, this pinnacle of the game that we've been talking about for four years, and to be standing here now saying, oh, you're going to be participating in it… it's still a bit of a pinch-me moment.
“I know once we land over there, get ourselves sorted as a team, we'll be raring to go.
“You look at the individuals and how they've each developed. You can see that on the field and off the field, but then I think the bigger reflection is how the team is then moving forward as well.
“We've got a squad with a lot of depth, so I'll definitely be wanting to put my best foot forward. It's not guaranteed that I will take the field, but I'll be doing everything that I can to. But absolutely, I think when I'll be in that, if I'm in that change room and about to step on the field, I'll be raring to go.”
Watching from the stands of North Sydney Oval, Hoy is also excited about the growing profile and impact the Wallaroos are having - hoping they inspire more female players to learn the game.
“I think it just shows the culture we are creating,” she added.
“It's inspiring for us and it really motivates us, especially going into this World Cup. I had many moments of that [which inspired me to get into rugby].
“I just love sports, so it was through all different sports. Unfortunately, it wasn't a women's rugby team because I never got to see a match. But yeah, that was definitely me through all the ages growing up, just absolutely in awe of these people.
“It's really a full circle moment that you can actually watch that happening live for you and your team.”
