Wallaroos backrower Piper Duck is soaking in her second World Cup appearance after injury looked set to derail her career.
Duck emerged as one of the key players to lead the Wallaroos into the future after the 2022 Rugby World Cup, appointed as skipper of the side the following year.
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However, a foot injury would stop the 24-year-old from having that honour, setting the scene for what was to come.
From shoulder to ankle injuries, Duck suffered a litany of setbacks as the powerful back-rower fought her way back into the national set-up.
“I've had time to process it, but I'm really honoured and really privileged. It's honestly so surreal,” she told Rugby.com.au.
“I'm very excited to be hopping on a plane to England. It's honestly a dream come true. It's something I've been working really hard for, especially these last two and a half years through injuries and things I've been dealing with.
“To be told that I'm now getting the opportunity to be on that plane to the World Cup, absolutely incredible.”
A shoulder injury during the Super Rugby W season looked to be one too many injuries for Duck; however, the Waratahs captain was steadfast in her desire to get to the big stage.
“With my last injury, it was probably really the turning point for me where I went ‘No, I refuse not to be on that plane’, there's no other option,” she said.
"When I did my shoulder up, I really had to have that moment look in the mirror and go, ‘What am I going to do here, what are my options?' I came to that point where I knew I've ticked every box, done everything I can possibly do, and I'm at rehab every day, I'm listening to everything I have to listen to and I'm not on that plane, I can live with that.
“If someone deserves to be on that plane, I get it. I want the best 32 girls on that plane to win, but thankfully, I have done everything I need to do, and to be on that plane now is extremely special, especially reflecting on that journey now.”
The Wallaroos will face Samoa, the USA and England in their pool, with the match against the hosts particularly exciting.
A sold-out crowd is confirmed in Brighton, with Duck and the squad out to silence it like they managed at the last World Cup against New Zealand.
“I think pressure's a privilege and we talk about it often. I think you play rugby because you are a competitor and you absolutely love being in that environment and I think it's an honour,” she believes.
“I think if I’m on home soil and I can get the crowd to be as loud as possibly, perfect, if I'm away and there's a full stadium and we can silence a crowd, that's even better.
“I think having the opportunity to do something like that is absolutely incredible and to see the growth in women's rugby and getting to watch the growth in women's rugby from Eden Park [in 2022] when we sold out that stadium with a record-breaking crowd but now to know we're going to be getting nearly 30,000 more numbers at the game for women's rugby, and that's going to go and break records again, that in itself is amazing.”
