Erin King: 'I want to be better than I was before'

World Breakthrough Player of the Year, helping Ireland to World Cup qualification, 2024 was the year of Erin King.

The 22-year-old took the rugby world by storm as she became a key part of the Ireland side, who turned their fortunes around under Scott Bemand.

However, disaster struck during the Six Nations in April, as a knee injury ruled King out of the World Cup.

As her teammates were in action in England, King admitted it was difficult to watch from the outside, but was proud to present her Ireland teammates their jerseys for the quarter-final against France with fellow injured player Dorothy Wall.

"When we got asked to do it, it was a great honour. To get to present the girls with their jersey for a World Cup quarter-final is something I never thought they would get us to do.

"It was really emotional, there were a lot of tears, and we really just spoke from the heart. The energy in the room, you could see on the pitch, how badly the girls wanted it.

"The team kept us really connected and really involved. It was one of the best experiences I ever had and a day I will never forget."

At this point in her recovery, King can now see the end of the tunnel.

After some difficult days, a February return is now in the cards, in plenty of time for the Six Nations.

"Things are going really well. The first few months were slow and a little bit uncertain at times.

"I am finally back running and looking ahead to being back on the pitch for February. Definitely back for the Six Nations, which is really exciting, and I can really start focusing my head for rugby.

"It was really, really tough to take. Missing the World Cup was a big one, but rehab has been a different thing; I have experienced different things in life.

"There have