Staveley: pain helps me thrive

AIMEE STAVELEY has finally opened up on the heartache and courage that is hidden behind her stellar career.

The 30-year-old Leeds Rhinos forward has won just about every honour in the women’s game in the past few years.

But the fact that Staveley is able to play at all, let along succeed at the top level, is astonishing.

Staveley was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis eight years ago and admits there are days when the physical pain is so bad “it turns me to stone”.

The mental battles, of knowing that it’s a crippling condition that she will always suffer with, have also taken her to some dark places. But staggeringly Staveley believes the bad luck that fate has dealt her has helped turned her into the fierce competitor she is today.

She said: “The things I have achieved in rugby are beyond my wildest dreams. It is amazing when I look back at what I’ve done.

“But I never take any of it for granted or look too far in front because I never know when I’ll get an infection or a flareup to knock me back.”

Staveley (above) this week completed a 100km running challenge to raise money for Versus Arthritis.

But it’s taken her eight years to get to the point where she’s comfortable talking publicly about the disease and the impact it has had on her.

She said: “I never wanted people to know because I didn’t want to be treated differently or excluded.”

Staveley, who is furloughed from her job as an assistant manager for Specsavers, and is also a qualified plasterer, added: “I only ever told my coaches about it, because they needed to know – and they were all very understanding

“But telling them made me try even harder. I get very stubborn with it.”