Western Force scrum-half and ARKS product Sammy Wood admits she’s still pinching herself that she’s off to a Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Wood, 21, has endured a challenging 12 months mired by injuries, forcing her to miss the entire 2025 Buildcorp Super Rugby Women’s campaign with the Force and parts of the latter half of the 2024 international season.
The Kalamunda half-back had a breakout 2024 season at the Force, leading to her debut for the Wallaroos in May last year against Canada before being crowned the 2024 Rebecca Clough medalist and Members’ MVP.
However, since then Wood has been plagued by back and shoulder issues, only to receive an Australia call-up in June to play Manusina Samoa, before returning to the Wallaroos fold against Wales last month.
Now Wood is one of five Force players set to play at the upcoming World Cup in England that starts on Friday 22 August, with the Wallaroos’ first game on the Saturday against Samoa (7pm WST, live on Stan Sport).
“Every single day it’s getting more and more real that I’m going to a World Cup,” Wood said.
“I’m really excited about the rugby that we’re going to be playing. England is such a huge rugby nation so it’s going to be such a great experience going over there.”
Wood, who now has seven international caps, said given her past year that she hadn’t expected to make the World Cup squad and was full of gratitude as a result.
“It’s so cool after the year that I’ve had, it’s so special,” Wood said.
“My goal initially was to just get back in the jersey, so the fact I’m going to the World Cup with the side, it’s something I’m really grateful for.
“It was a big journey. Everyone at the Force and the Wallaroos has gotten me back to this point. I’m truly grateful for all of their support.
“It’s been a hell of a journey to get to this point. I’m just truly grateful to be back.”
The WA product, who started her rugby journey at ARKS having grown up on a 10-acre property in Roleystone, said it was amazing to be representing WA at the World Cup.
“It’s awesome. I was kicking yesterday down at UWA by myself and it was bringing me back to doing that as a kid,” she said.
“Going to Kala and going to ARKS when I was younger, just dreaming that I could play in a World Cup, I hope that inspires girls and boys through WA to do the same thing.”
Watch every game of the Women's Rugby World Cup live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
