Emma Wassell: How her 'rugby family' got her through the toughest time

It was famously once said that rugby is ‘a beastly game played by gentleman’, a sport that prides itself on its values demonstrated both on and off the field.

This has never been as evident than for Scotland lock Emma Wassell, as the support of her “rugby family” helped her deal with an incredibly tough 2024, following the passing of her mother Pauline and a tumour diagnosis that has seen her sidelined for all of the 2024/25 season to date.

Talking on episode 1 of Rugby Rising Locker Room, Wassell reflected on the unwavering support from her teammates that has helped drive her firstly through grief, and subsequently through diagnosis and treatment.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Wassell reflects on the weeks she was in hospital being treated for a tumour in her chest. “There wasn’t a moment that I went without someone by my bed. For the first four days I slept, and I would wake up and be like ‘Oh hi!’, there was always someone there,” said the 30-year-old. “It was so apparent how they were there for me the whole time. I just felt so incredibly supported by them.”

Her stay in hospital came only months after her mother passed away during the 2024 Six Nations.

“I played the last game of the Six Nations and two days later I was speaking a eulogy at my mum’s funeral. It’s helped me cope so much and it’s given me strength ever since, knowing I have these people and this incredible sport, quite frankly, that has allowed me deal with this so well.

“It has been a difficult year, but there has been so much light that has come out of it, in terms of the incredible people that have supported me.

“I was really sad to miss rugby, I was sad to not be able to just get back to playing, especially how much they had supported me in a really difficult time, I want to be there for them, I want to be back, but actually, getting through what happened with my mum, everything in comparison felt easy.”

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There is no doubting that returning to the field is a goal that her mum would have wholeheartedly supported, as Wassell’s biggest supporter.

“She was there as we played France at home, as she always would be, and it was only 10 days later (that she passed), so it was a hugely challenging time.”

“Rugby has become a huge part of my life, my mum knew that, how big it was for me. My mum loved me as much as she loved all of the other girls as well and I don’t think there would have been anywhere else she would have wanted me to be.”

Just as her teammates supported her through the process, Wassell was able to help her teammates too, acting as an Assistant Manager for the national side during the 2024 WXV 2 tournament in South Africa, ensuring she has remained a part of the side as she returns to running and the gym with eyes on a return to the pitch for Scotland’s opening World Cup game against Wales in Manchester.

You can catch the full interview with Wassell speaking to England internationals Maud Muir and Sadia Kabeya on the first episode of Rugby Rising Locker Room in partnership with Mastercard, available now on RugbyPass TV and in the RugbyPass app, available in your app store.