Sydney Sevens: Speed machine Emma Tonegato returns from long layoff in huge boost for Aussies

Emma Tonegato has been cleared to rejoin the champion Aussie women’s team for next weekend’s Sydney Sevens in a major boost to the side as they try to emulate their astonishing victory from last year.

Emma Tonegato tested out her injured shoulder by tackling her boyfriend.

Rio Olympic gold medallist Emma Tonegato has been given the all clear after spending the last six months on the sidelines to rejoin the champion Australian’s women’s team for next weekend’s Sydney Sevens.

One of the most prolific try scorers in the global game, Tonegato’s return is a major boost for the Australians as they try to emulate their astonishing victory at last year’s Sydney leg of the World Series, when they romped to the trophy without conceding a single point in the tournament.

Things haven’t gone quite so well since then after a mounting injury toll claimed a number of key players, including the electric footed Tonegato, who suffered a recurrence of a shoulder problem midway through last year.

Emma Tonegato tested out her injured shoulder by tackling her boyfriend.

The 28-year-old had already undergone one operation in March 2017 and was ordered to go back under the surgeon’s knife in August last year and hasn’t played since.

“I’m ready now,” she said.

“It’s been a long road back from surgery but I’m super excited to be playing in Sydney.”

Even before she got the clearance from her doctor, Tonegato tested her shoulder out by tackling her boyfriend when they were on holidays in Samoa, but there were still some question marks in her mind.

“Sometimes I think I’m not very genetically blessed but you’ve gotta put that to the back of your head and know that you've done it 1000 times already,” she said.

“I’ve been through it all before so I know I can come back from it but so much of it is mental and I’ve even been seeing a psychologist who has been helping me a lot get over that final hurdle.”

Emma Tonegato and Dominique Du Toit celebrate a win at last year’s Sydney Sevens.

Emma Tonegato is back in business.

Tonegato’s return couldn’t come at a better time for the Aussies ahead of the February 1-3 tournament at Spotless Stadium.

Although Australia won last season’s overall World Series title, New Zealand have taken over as the No. 1 side, winning last year’s World Cup and Commonwealth Games titles and sitting at the top of the current rankings.

Australia are fourth but with the only the top four teams at the end of the season receiving automatic qualification for next year’s Tokyo Olympics, Tonegato said they needed to win in Sydney to give themselves some breathing space.

“We’re not exactly where we want to be right now because obviously you want to win every tournament,” she said.

“Everyone kind of expects than from us after Rio so there’s always a lot of expectation even though you can't win everything.

“Tokyo is our long-term goal so we just need to peak at the right time right no, we’ve set our rights on Sydney.

“It’s so extra special because it’s in Australia so we just want to crash it.”