Mollie Gray has been given the green light to play at the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland.
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Gray played her first 20 minutes of rugby after undergoing a total knee reconstruction four-and-a-half months ago when she ran out with the Maitland Blacks against Merewether Carlton at Marcellin Park on Friday night.
Gray admitted that the nerves built as she waited on the sidelines to run on for the final quarter of the game.
“I almost asked can I wait to the next play when it came time to come on,” she said.
“There was a big cheer as I ran on and if anything I felt more anxious.”
Gray said after the first play her confidence rose. Tackling, packing the scrum, the line-out and then the big test her first hit-up.
“That was the biggest test for me as I injured my knee in a hit-up, I was pretty confident about the other aspects of the game.
“When I got the ball I just said to myself ‘go for it’ and it stood up fine.
“It was fantastic to get out and play again and to do it with the Blacks was really special.”
While the Blacks lost the game, both teams and the large crowd were celebrating as they realised the significance of Gray getting through the game unscathed.
One of the biggest smile on the sidelines was on the face of young fan Poppy Gollan, who posted a message of good luck to Gray on Facebook ahead of the game.
Gray said the message was one of the highlights of an exciting but nervous week and delivered on her promise of presenting Poppy with an Aussie jersey after the game.
Gray goes into a training camp with the Wallaroos before they fly out to Ireland on August 2.
She is joined in the Australian squad by Hunter players Sarah Riordan and Katrina Barker.
