Page number 50
‘It was just a normal day of training. I was rehabbing an ACL injury when I felt a massive pain behind my right eye and at the back of my head. I didn’t feel great, but until that moment, I was fine,’ she recalls. ‘Ed noticed right away that my face had dropped. I didn’t notice it myself, but I knew something was wrong. The team doctor, who was luckily in the gym at the time, quickly assessed me and suspected a stroke. Within minutes, I was in an ambulance on the way to Connolly Hospital.’ The recovery process was long and difficult. After two weeks in hospital, Dane faced months of sleeplessness, headaches, and the emotional toll of processing the incident. ‘The emotional aspect was the hardest part. It took two or three months before I really started to digest what had happened. I was in survival mode, just trying to sleep, eat, and recover. We’re not used to making time for emotional recovery as elite athletes, but that was a huge part of my journey back.’ As a chartered physiotherapist, Dane’s medical knowledge was both a blessing and a burden. Recognising the symptoms allowed her to stay calm and react quickly, but it also meant she was acutely aware of the gravity of her situation. ‘It was scary and shocking, but I knew what was happening. It wasn’t confirmed until I got to the hospital that it was a haemorrhage from an AVM that I was born with but never knew existed.’ Despite the challenges, Dane was determined to return to rugby. She sought a second opinion on her ability to play again and met all the milestones necessary for her comeback. In July 2024, she made her return in a warm-up match against Connacht – a significant milestone in a week that also saw her submit her PhD thesis titled Playing Catch-Up: Safety and Optimal Tackle Outcomes in Women’s Rugby , marking the culmination of almost four years of intensive work. The timing and location of the incident were critical. Had it occurred elsewhere, without immediate access to medical professionals, the outcome could have been much worse. ‘The speed at which everything happened was incredible. I had left-sided weakness almost immediately and needed help to get off the gym floor. I’m just so thankful it happened where it did, with medical support right there.’ Kathryn Dane’s return to rugby is nothing short of inspiring. Her journey reflects not only her resilience and determination as an elite athlete but also her commitment to advancing women’s rugby both on and off the field. Recently, Kathryn was named to the Barbarians women’s squad for their match against South Africa on Saturday, 7 September. While the Barbarians faced a loss in that game, Kathryn’s future in rugby promises many more victories and achievements ahead.
Page number 51
BANK OF IRELAND AFFINITY CARD The credit card that’s designed especially for Trinity alumni, staff and students The Bank of Ireland affinity credit card, designed for Trinity alumni, staff and students, offers some unique benefits to both you and the college. When you become a Trinity MasterCard Cardholder, Bank of Ireland will donate €15 to Trinity Trust. The more graduates and staff join, the more college benefits. Bank of Ireland will also donate a percentage of the annual spend to the Trust – at no cost to you. Great balance transfer rate of 2.9% fixed APR when you move your balance from a card with another institution Flexible payment options No annual account fee 24 hour emergency helplines and cash facility A dd up to three extra cardholders to your account and pay just one annual government stamp duty fee For information on how to apply for a card, contact Bank of Ireland on +353 (1) 649 3281 or visit Bank of Ireland today.
