Charlotte Caslick played match in Dubai Sevens with broken hand
Charlotte Caslick is recognised as the golden girl of Australian rugby. But coach John Manenti says she is also the toughest player on the team — and he has the evidence to prove it.
Charlotte Caslick is the undisputed ironwoman of Australian rugby.
While she is recognised as the golden girl in Australian women’s sevens, coach John Manenti says she is also the toughest player in the team — and he has the evidence to prove it.
He revealed that during the Dubai Sevens last weekend the super athlete fully ruptured the ligament on her pinky finger and kept playing.
“And in the fourth game she actually broke the same hand in a tackle,” Manenti said.
“So she played the last couple of games with a broken hand and no ligament.”
Playing through the pain is nothing new for Caslick, with Manenti adding that she finished a game at the Colorado Sevens earlier this year with a broken collarbone.
“She gets a lot of plaudits for being the playmaker and she is well-known for being very talented,” Manenti said.
“But she doesn’t get the credit for being as tough as she is.
“To me, (she is) without a doubt the toughest girl we have in that sense and nobody would ever think that, and they don’t see that.
“That separates her from a lot of players around the world.”
Caslick had surgery to repair her finger on Tuesday and will be sidelined for the Sydney Sevens tournament on February 1-3 at Sydney Olympic Park.
She posted a photo on her Instagram account in hospital with her right hand heavily bandaged.
“Sooo Dubai didn’t end like I had expected! After tearing a tendon in my hand as well as breaking it,” she said.
“I went under the knife last night (for the first time ever).
“The recovery time is a bit longer than I expected which means I’ll miss our home tournament in Sydney.
“Can’t wait to become ambidextrous.”
It is hoped Caslick will be back for the World Series tournament in Japan on April 20-21.
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