‘I just didn’t feel right, was slow to remember things’ – Sam Monaghan moves past concussion for Six Nations return

Monaghan missed Ireland’s opening game of the Women’s Six Nations against France last weekend as she continued to follow return-to-play protocols. The Meath lock returns to the team for Ireland’s first home game of the championship against Italy at the RDS tomorrow.

Monaghan says it was a “delayed concussion” she sustained while playing for her club in a Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) game against Saracens at Kingsholm on Saturday, January 20. Tomorrow will be her first game since she went off after 77 minutes in that match.

“It’s been a rough couple of months. I didn’t know when the timeline was going to be. It was one of those injuries that you’ve to take it week-by-week. There were a few days when I couldn’t do much. I could only do walks. So to be back out on the pitch and have the girls around me is really special and I’m really looking forward to Sunday,” Monaghan told the Irish Independent after Ireland’s Captains Run at the RDS today.

Ireland captains run ahead of Women’s Six Nations game with Italy at the RDS tomorrow

“It was kind of a delayed concussion so it was only after the game that I realised that I wasn’t feeling well. There was three weeks when I couldn’t do anything really, so I was just sitting at home.

"It’s a dark, dark space but they got me back here into Santry and I saw a specialist and the doctors and physios here have been amazing. We just took it bit by bit, day by day, broke it down into achievable goals and here I am back out on the pitch a couple of weeks later.”

Monaghan says her symptoms were varied.

“I felt quite ill after the game, sick, so they felt it might have been a viral infection but then headaches, blurred vision. Just didn’t feel right, felt in a fog, was quite slow to remember things.

"Sometimes people have certain symptoms, but I seem to have a little bit of everything. And then I probably did too much too soon. It’s an injury that’s different for everyone. There’s no set plan, you push a little bit, you pull back. But I have to say I wouldn’t be out here today without Roisín [Murphy, physiotherapist] and Matt [Cosgrave, team doctor] and all the team at the IRFU.”

Monaghan says she holds no concerns about playing in her first game since January.

“No, I don’t. It’s funny when you come back from an injury the first couple of sessions you’re a bit cautious but then the adrenaline kicks in. And you’re so focused on what’s happening on the pitch that you don’t even think about anything else. So it hasn’t crossed my mind in training or last week during the game.

“My mother was very worried. I don’t know how she’s going to watch on Sunday because she’s always worried about my head going into scrums, collusions. I had to do loads of rehab and she was helping me so she’s been with me through thick and thin. She’ll be delighted to see me back out here but it is scary. It is common in rugby; concussions.

“A lot of people get back after seven days but for it to go on that long was obviously just unfortunate and just glad to be back out on the pitch.”

With no place for fellow co-captain Edel McMahon in the match-day squad, Monaghan will be the main captain tomorrow as they aim to record their first Women’s Six Nations win since April 2022. Monaghan believes the team have learned a lot from their 38-17 loss to France in the opening round last Saturday.

“We were disappointed after last week. There was a lot of missed opportunities out there. We had some hard truths this week, some honest feedback with each other and have just really built on staying together, sticking together, putting our best performance out on [Sunday] because we have worked so hard over the last couple of weeks. We have full belief that we can beat Italy on Sunday.

“I think we’re already up here with a record [attendance] in the RDS. So to have a bigger crowd, I’ve said it before, it’s like having another player on the pitch. There’s no better feeling then someone making a break down the pitch and having that crowd behind you. Our goal is to inspire the next generation so the more kids and families we can get down here picking up rugby balls is amazing for us.”