Taylor reveals frustration at injury comeback delay

Tamara Taylor has been synonymous with England Women’s rugby for the best part of 13 years – but admitted it was tough to watch the recent Autumn Internationals from the sidelines.

Having taken longer than expected to recover from ankle surgery, Darlington Mowden Park Sharks’ Taylor missed the Red Roses’ victories over Canada, Ireland and the United States, despite originally anticipating to be back on the rugby field by October.

And while Taylor admitted the performances of the side showed the enduring quality, she was disappointed to not be out on the field of battle, and sits behind only Rochelle Clark on number of England appearances.

“It’s been really slow,” the veteran revealed. “I should have been back on a rugby pitch in October but it’s just been a bit slow and although I did the training weekend at the end of September, my ankle was pretty upset about it and pretty swollen.

“I haven’t done a lot of walking since but I’m now back on track of where I want to be – I’ll either be playing just before Christmas or, more realistically, just after Christmas.

“For quite a long time it is difficult watching England play.”

Away from the rugby field, Taylor is captaining a team of challengers who are hoping to raise more than £200,000 for children’s charity Wooden Spoon by setting two unique world records.

This involves scaling Mount Everest in April and May 2019 and playing the highest games of contact rugby and touch rugby in history at a height of more than 6,500m.

A sister campaign, #MyEverest, was also launched last week encouraging people to share their stories of challenges they are aiming to beat or tales of overcoming personal adversity.

Despite not featuring in the white of her country, Taylor was on hand to see the Red Roses crown a trio of triumphs with a 37-15 success over Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday – Lydia Thompson bagging a hat-trick in the process.

And Taylor added a chance encounter with a former teammate eased her frustrations about being in the stands rather than on the pitch.

“I was actually at the Ireland game on and I ended up sitting next to someone who I play rugby with at the start of my career,” added Taylor. “Just as she was ending playing for England, I was just starting.

“And she says she still finds it quite hard watching England. It’s such a big part of your life and you give up so much to represent your country.

“It was nice to feel that everybody feels the same way and it’s normal, but it’s going to be difficult for a while.”

Support us in the LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge to help change the lives of children and young people with disabilities and facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland – visit woodenspoon.org.uk/Everest #everestrugby