An Inspiring Rugby Story!

An inspirational return – from rwcwomens.com

14 SEPTEMBER 2006

By Karen Bond

When Lynne Reid made her IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup debut against Kazakhstan, it was the culmination of a remarkable year for the Scotland prop which began with her undergoing surgery at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edinburgh.

However this was no run of the mill surgery as Reid was actually having a prosthetic eye fitted, the consequence of an injury suffered 18 months earlier in a club game that had led to a loss of pressure in her left eye.

The loss of an eye may seem unthinkable to the average person, but for Reid it did not cause any major adjustments because the 29-year-old had always had no sight in that eye and therefore has never known any different.

“I have never really found it kind of as a hindrance,” Reid told rwcwomens.com. “I was actually born with a cataract which meant I never had sight in the left eye, so I have never had to make that adjustment when I play or in anything I do.

“Everything I do seems to be natural, compensating for that loss from an early age. I guess I have always been quite determined in sport and anything I do and the benefits of family and friends support making sure I can achieve everything I set out to do.”

Quick return

Even with this factor in mind though it is remarkable that Reid was, thanks to her dedicated team of surgeons and her own determination, back training with Scotland only three months later and playing in the Six Nations inside five months.

“I guess the injury itself, having the finger in the eye and the sudden loss of pressure resulted in there not being an option rather than to remove the eye and continue with the prosthesis,” explained Reid.

“I guess there was always a concern that particularly would I have enough time to do that and make my return into the squad before the World Cup, but I was certainly fortunate with the surgeons in the hospital I attended.

“They were aware of how determined I was and the level of commitment and understanding of that to get me back and prepared and in training in time, which I am really thankful for.

“In terms of the whole seriousness of the injury, there is always going to be risks involved in whatever you do. I guess certainly the family and that were more concerned about you know what if.

“There was always the question of what if it had been the other eye, what if this thing had happened and you can’t lead your life on the what ifs and on the risks, sometimes you have to grit your teeth and get on with it and I am glad I have.

“I have no regrets of being here.”

Even so it has not always been plain sailing for Reid, who has grown up with the inevitable snide remarks or narrow-mindedness of some who can’t believe she is able to play rugby, let alone at the highest level in the women’s game with vision in only one eye.

Anything is possible

Reid though has a clear message for anyone in a similar position to herself or for the parents of any youngster who wants to try their hand at a sport such as rugby union.

“Throughout everything I think if you are determined to do something and if you set your mind to it and you have got the support network around you, you can achieve anything you want to achieve.

Throughout everything I think if you are determined to do something and if you set your mind to it and you have got the support network around you, you can achieve anything you want to achieve.
Scotland prop Lynne Reid

“It is something I have always lived with and therefore I think I have been very fortunate in the fact that I have not had to make those adjustments.

“I think it would have been different if I had suffered the blindness just a year and a half ago and then had to compensate through that. The adjustment for me has been a cosmetic thing rather than it being any loss of further vision.

“I think youngsters have definitely got to go for it and a strong message to the parents and that behind them, my Mum and Dad never held me back from anything, they allowed me to go ahead and take those risks and do what I wanted to do just as any other child would do.

“I think that has been the greatest thing that has ever happened; I have never been wrapped in that cotton wool. It is a case of getting out there and giving it your best shot.”

These youngsters need look no further than Reid, who will hope to figure for Scotland in their fifth place playoff with the USA at Commonwealth Stadium on Sunday, for inspiration of what they can achieve.