Miracle recovery is so sweet for Rosie
TEST RETURN AFTER HELL V SCOTLAND ENGLAND MIDDAY
WHEN she started vomiting and lost the ability to walk, Rosie Galligan had bigger concerns than whether she would play rugby for England again.
She was rushed to hospital, diagnosed with meningitis and for 10 days battled what can be a life-threatening infection alone in a room.
Seven weeks later Galligan was back playing, only to fall in a line-out, rupture three ligaments, fracture a bone in her leg and shatter her ankle.
Once again her most pressing concern was not adding to the first cap she won off the bench against Ireland in 2019.
Yet she never gave up on that dream and today, more than three years later, the Harlequins second row will earn cap No.2 as England launch their Six Nations title defence away to Scotland.
“Helluva story,” said England head coach Simon Middleton, above. “She’s come back in with an attitude of, ‘I’ve got a chance, I’m going to take it’. She’s done unbelievably well.” England are the dominant force in women’s rugby – ranked No.1 in the world, on an 18-match winning streak and favourites for a third successive title.
They stuck 99 points on world champions New Zealand in two matches in the autumn and right now only France seem capable of giving them a game.
For Galligan, 23, to have forced her way back into that company after so long out speaks volumes.
“A lot of people said I wouldn’t step back on a rugby pitch or play sport because of how severe my ankle was,” she said. “That only makes it sweeter.” Surgeons used four pins, a scaffold and a plate to rebuild her ankle.The rest was down to her.
“Rosie has an incredible attitude,” said older brother Henry, inspired by his sister to embark on a year’s worth of challenges to raise funds for Meningitis Now.
“She went from feeling a bit unwell to couldn’t move her legs to in an ambulance within the space of 24 hours. The doctor said something like, had the diagnosis been a couple of days later she could have lost all movement in her legs.
“She experienced intense pain. It was a really, really scary time but she received amazing care at Maidstone Hospital to come out the other side.”
With the World Cup, postponed from last year, due to finally start in New Zealand in October, Middleton plans to rotate his squad through the first three rounds.
It means Galligan is guaranteed nothing beyond today. But don’t worry about her. She’s long since learned to look after herself.
To support Henry Galligan’s meningitis fundraiser visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ henry-meningitis-now