A film charting the remarkable rugby return of Emma Wassell following the discovery of a tumour in her chest has been released, and the Scotland international admitted watching it for the first time was a “surreal” experience.
The film takes Wassell on an emotional journey through the toughest two years of her life, from the sudden passing of her mum Pauline during the 2024 Six Nations, to the discovery of a 27cm tumour in her chest during the team’s preparations for WXV later that year.
Through intimate access and candid interviews with Wassell, her team-mates and Scotland team physio Flo Laing, the hour-long film explores how Wassell navigated grief, recovery and the pressures of elite sport while facing the jeopardy of whether she would be able to pull on a Scotland jersey again.
And the Scotland star, joined by her team-mates, family and friends, got a first chance to watch the final product, titled Laoch, the Gaelic word meaning ‘warrior’, as more than 150 people packed into the Everyman cinema in Edinburgh on Thursday evening for the premiere.
An emotional Wassell said it was "genuinely surreal” to see her story told on the big screen.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that they would be making a short film about a period of my life, and albeit being probably two of the most difficult periods of my life.
“I'm just so honoured that I've been able to share it and also see the incredible amount of light that has come out of it in terms of the support I've had from my team.”
As well as shining a light on her remarkable recovery to make the Scotland squad for last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, the film charts Wassell’s rugby journey.
It explores her relationship with the game, which started at Ellon RFC, where her father David had played. He sadly passed away in 2004 when Emma was just 10 years old.
It also showcases her journey with Scotland, from juggling work responsibilities just to turn out for the national team and having to wait 22 matches for a first win during a difficult period, to becoming a full-time athlete.
“It's a different life,” Wassell said, as she reflected on the past two years.
“After the passing of my mum, I very much took that as an opportunity to live life to the absolute fullest and put my heart and soul into things I was passionate about.
“And I am hugely and immensely passionate about playing for Scotland, so I when I got sick, there was no other option for me other than to put your absolute all in getting back to playing.”
In a video shot from her hospital bed just before she underwent sternotomy surgery – where her breastbone was broken to remove the tumour - the 31-year-old states she will get back to playing rugby.
And while Wassell admitted there were some tough times during her initial two-week stint in hospital, once the operation was over and declared a success, she was always confident she would return to the field.
"Right at the beginning, there were some pretty dark moments in hospital where it was like, ‘am I going to survive? Am I going to be okay?’
“Straight after that, it was, ‘am I playing rugby again?’ And then, things almost came hand in hand because if I was alive, I was playing rugby again.
“I think the thought of not playing rugby again was scarier, and some people might think that sounds mental, but I cannot describe the amount this sport has given back to me and how strongly I feel about being part of it while I'm still able.”
Wassell was the first female athlete to return from a sternotomy – the only other rugby players to have undergone similar were Saracens’ England international Nick Isiekwe and Sale Sharks forward Alex Groves, but both for heart issues.
And team physio Laing acknowledged there was a significant amount of uncertainty about the chances of Wassell making it back, firstly to rugby, but secondly in time for the Rugby World Cup.
“I had to be very, very black and white with her,” the Scotland physio said.
“I think it's the only fair thing to do and explain the risks. And I said from day one ‘I'm very happy to throw everything at it, but it doesn't mean it's going to work’.
“You have to have a dose of reality in there because otherwise the fall from grace is pretty hard, but she did amazingly and she made the job very easy.”
Guiding Wassell through her recovery journey was a major piece of work for Laing, too.
“Everyone was so generous with their time and their knowledge. that was from people from NHS all the way to others and the surgeon was amazing.
“We spoke to another cardiothoracic surgeon as well while the cardiothoracic nurse had amazing care for her.
“We tried to take all those amazing nuggets from people and then try and apply that.
“It was an amazing opportunity and it's really special actually, everyone was so generous with their time and I was very lucky, Emma was a star.”
Wassell hailed the support of her team-mates, with many taking turns to sit by her bedside during her time in hospital. She also revealed she lived with captain Rachel Malcolm’s family after leaving hospital and was treated “like a queen”.
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“You don't probably realise in a team how much you support and care for each other,” she added.
“We go out and play a hugely physical, brutal sport and the things that you would do for your team-mate become second nature on the pitch, but you don't realise what these people will do for you off the pitch.
"The way I've seen a group of girls group together and support me in any possible way they could, it's just something that I will genuinely hold with me for the rest of my life.”
And she hopes that by sharing her story, she can help other people going through difficult times.
“If me sharing my story can help any person in the world, what a real honour for me to be able to do that,” Wassell said.
Any ticket holders for Scotland’s Women’s Six Nations match can watch Laoch from Saturday, while the film will be launched to the public on Scottish Rugby’s YouTube channel from Sunday.
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