Kathryn Dane has the right stuff to make a comeback following her brain haemorrhage, according to Ireland team-mate Laura Feely.
Ulster scrum-half Dane revealed last month that she had suffered the injury during an Ireland training session in Abbotstown, Dublin last November and thanked the medical teams that were quickly on hand when the incident happened.
"I hope to make a full recovery and return to work and rugby, but it will take some time," the 26-year-old wrote.
Speaking at the launch of the Tackle Your Feelings podcast, Ireland prop Feely backed her friend to make a recovery.
"I wasn't there at the time, but obviously the support for Kathryn has been massive since," the Donegal native told RTÉ Sport.
"We were devastated to hear that, she’s an unbelievable personality within the squad and one of the most resilient and strong people I know. She would be one of my go-tos within camp.
"If there is anyone strong enough to come through something so difficult it will be Kathryn.
"She is so timid and soft spoken [but] she’s one of the most intelligent rugby players I know. She’s so determined and she’s always doing her work in the background.
"There’s nothing you can’t go to Kathryn with, whether it be on and off the pitch. She has so much knowledge around the game and around the team and what the culture should be to succeed.
"Out of everyone I’ve ever roomed with in camp, I’ve shared a hotel room with Kathyrn the most.
"You talk tactics with her and then you can switch off and she can be there with you from an outside perspective as well, like any advice when you are struggling.
"I just know that she has all those tools herself and it will be really tough putting it into action now but she keeps in good contact with all her friends and she has a great support system in her boyfriend and all her family and she knows that we are all there for her too."
Ireland begin their TikTok Women's Six Nations campaign against Wales away on 25 March and Feely, who went on the summer tour to Japan last year, didn't make the squad that was announced yesterday but is still "very much up for selection."
"I spoke to Greg and John after the inter-pros and they were very clear on what the development plan was with the Celtic Cup and what they wanted to achieve out of that," the 31-year, who has been capped 24 times since her debut in 2018, said.
"For front row players, it’s been a big area that they wanted to focus on and bring people through and I think a lot of girls put their hands up to go to the next level and see what they have to offer.
"What I have to offer going forward is my knowledge of the game. I am quite a versatile player and have a lot of experience under my belt and if I can offer any of the new players anything, knowledge around the pack, the front row or systems of the games [that would be great]."
Last year the IRFU offered a number of professional contracts to the XV women’s squad for the first time with various levels of uptake.
Feely, who finished up her Connacht career at the end of the inter-pros but still lines out for Blackrock College, says it’s a great move but just came at the wrong time for her to take up an offer.
"For me, I am quite established in my career at the minute," said Feely, who works as a quality engineer in a medical devices company.
"It was going to be difficult for me because ultimately, I’ve always wanted to be a professional player but for the younger girls, I think it’s fantastic.
"They are being allowed to study and experience a professional environment. It just depends on where you are at in your career or how long you’ve been in this programme.
"It’s an amazing achievement, I never thought I’d see in my career that there was professional women playing.
"I think it’s fantastic and I’m a little bit jealous that I’m not 10 years younger doing it. I’m probably more envious than anything, it’s great though."
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