A year ago, Erin King received devastating news that she might never return to rugby or even run again. Today, the 22-year-old is set to captain Ireland in a crucial match against France this Saturday, seeking to overturn last year’s Rugby World Cup elimination by their opponents, which occurred without her participation. King, who switched from sevens rugby following the 2024 Olympics, suffered a severe knee injury during the 2025 Six Nations game against England, sidelining her for the major tournament. This setback impacted Ireland’s efforts, as the back-row player had been excelling in the 15s format. In 2024, she earned the World Rugby breakthrough player award for exceptional displays, including two tries in a landmark victory over New Zealand at the WXV event. Her rising career halted abruptly in a heavy defeat to England in Cork, 49-5. King recalls not fully grasping the injury’s severity initially, until consultations with surgeons and physiotherapists revealed multiple treatment paths for the unusual damage. She describes the period as challenging, initially denying the reality and hoping to compete in the World Cup, but eventually accepting the situation with support from teammates like Dorothy Wall, who also missed the event. They bonded over shared disappointment. The injury involved significant cartilage loss from her kneecap, repaired through a nano-fracture procedure resembling microneedling to encourage regrowth, supplemented by pig collagen for structural support. After rehabilitation, she ran for the first time in September, an emotional milestone marked by tears and reflection on the mental and physical effort required. King resumed playing in January with the Wolfhounds and quickly regained her previous level. Her international comeback against England at Twickenham this month included scoring a try and serving as captain, a role assigned in January. Although Ireland lost, they showed improvement and later beat Italy. Now, the squad prepares to address the disputed World Cup quarter-final loss to France from last year. Watching from the sidelines, King felt heartbroken for her team, who led 13-0 before France’s 18-13 comeback. The game included an unpunished biting incident involving France’s Axelle Berthoumieu, who later received a nine-match ban, against Ireland’s Aoife Wafer. King expresses enthusiasm for correcting past injustices and channeling frustrations, noting the added intensity from the close contest and surrounding controversy. She highlights growing confidence from recent wins and eagerness for the challenge in France. A victory could position Ireland as title contenders, challenging England’s dominance and potentially securing their first championship since 2015. The team aims for a top-two finish, last achieved in 2017, building on recent progress in competing with elite nations. King believes the group’s skill, determination, and spirit can achieve this ambitious goal. In unrelated developments, Meg Jones has gained prominence as England’s captain, with fans displaying tattoos in her honor.
