
Tumut’s Piper Duck has detailed the long and difficult road to recovery that led to her being selected for the Wallaroos squad for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Photo: piper_rose_duck Instagram.
Following a string of injuries and several years of on-and-off rehab, Tumut’s Piper Duck has said she did everything she could to be named in the Wallaroos’ World Cup squad.
With the Women’s Rugby World Cup set to begin in England later this month, Duck recalled the turning point in her rehab that led to her push for selection.
“I’m really honoured and really privileged,” Duck said.
“It’s honestly so surreal; I’m very excited to be hopping on a plane to England. It’s a dream come true and something that I’ve been working really hard for, especially for the last two and a half years with all the injuries and challenges I’ve been dealing with.
“To be told that I’m now getting the opportunity to get on that plane and play at the World Cup is incredible.”
The Waratahs captain missed most of the 2023 and 2024 Super Rugby seasons following several injuries to an ankle and shoulder.
Duck missed the 2025 Super Rugby Grand Final due to a shoulder injury, and tours of Wales, Ireland and South Africa following a training incident that resulted in an ankle injury in September last year.
“Getting back to rugby was the biggest thing for me,” Duck said.
“I love this game; honestly, it’s the best game on Earth, in my opinion. I absolutely love it.
“Through the injuries, it’s just been about remembering why I play. It’s been the people and the girls I get to play with. During my last injury, there was a bit of a turning point for me.
“I went, nope, I refuse to not be on that plane to England. There’s no other option.”
Duck said she did everything she could to ensure she was available for selection for the World Cup.
“When I did my shoulder, I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘What am I going to do here? What are my options?'” she said.
“I said to myself, ‘Look, if I know I’ve ticked every box and I’ve done everything I can possibly do and I’m not on that plane, I can live with that because I know at the end of the day I’ve put my best foot forward.
“I want the best 32 girls on the plane to England, and thankfully, I’ve done everything I could to be there.
“It’s extremely special, especially looking back on my journey over the last few years.”
The Wallaroos’ first match of the 2025 Rugby World Cup will be against Samoa on Saturday 23 August at 9 pm AEST and will be broadcast on Channel 9 and Stan Sports.