Golden girl returns to family farm for Christmas

Rugby Sevens golden girl Charlotte Caslick is hoping the serenity of the family farm in southern Queensland will help with her recovery from major hand surgery.

RUGBY Sevens golden girl Charlotte Caslick is hoping the serenity of Queensland’s Granite Belt will help with her recovery from major hand surgery.

The Olympic gold medallist is spending Christmas and the New Year with her family, out near Stanthorpe after breaking her right hand playing in Dubai earlier this month.

The night James was coward-punched

Eyes on contract with Broncos

Focused for Commonwealth Games

The Courier-Mail sat down this week with Caslick on her 150ha cattle property, which she runs with partner Lewis Holland, as she began rehabilitation on her hand.

Australian women's Rugby Sevens star Charlotte Caslick spends some time recuperating from a hand injury on her farm at Stanthorpe. Picture: Adam Head

Caslick suffered a torn tendon and a broken right hand while playing in the Emirates Airlines Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament earlier this month – her first major injury since she started playing rugby.

The tireless worker – on and off the rugby field – will now have to limit her workload with her recent hand injury restricting her duties on her farm.

“My broken hand gets me out of fencing, so there’s positives in everything,” she said.

This unwavering positivity of one of Rugby Sevens’ most dynamic players has meant she is now hoping to add ambidexterity to her sporting repertoire.

“Obviously, I can’t do a whole lot,” she said.

“It’s obviously not ideal timing with Sydney (Sevens) around the corner and the stuff we have to do out here on the farm.

“It could be a lot worse though. I get to spend time here.

“I’m trying to become ambidextrous. I’m practising my (left-handed) handwriting every day so that’s the goal.”

Caslick said she has been sidelined for at least three months, at a time when the Women’s Sevens squad continue their push for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Caslick during the bronze medal match of the HSBC World Rugby Women's Sevens Series 2019 between Australia and United States

“I started my first session back from surgery (on Monday) and the hand feels good, so I’ll hopefully be back soon,” she said.

She said that in the meantime though she would be recuperating over Christmas as she spent time with her extended family near Stanthorpe.

Her partner Lewis Holland will also be working on their on property, which is home to about 80 cattle.

“The family has kind of been all over the place this year so it’ll be good to catch up with them all over Christmas,” she said.

“I love it out here. It’s a lot of fun.”