Brittany Hogan discusses overcoming World Cup and injury setbacks
Michael Bolton
It may have been more quarter-final heartbreak for Ireland at a Rugby World Cup, but Brittany Hogan is proud of how the side represented themselves.
After failing to qualify for the last women's World Cup, Scott Bernard's side were edged out by France 18-13 in Exeter.
In a game which saw Hogan pick up an injury in the 58th minute, defeat was hard to take.
However, as time has passed, the Ireland back-row has learned to take the positives from the tournament.
"The feelings now compared to straight after are hugely contrasting", said Hogan.
"It was a heartbreaking finish, so close to achieving our goal, I got injured, so it was a mixture of emotions for myself.
"I still think of how heartbreaking that day was, but I try my best to combat it by looking at the impact we have made. We achieved our goal in inspiring our next generation of boys and girls."
From missing out on World Cups and wooden spoons to being disappointed not to reach a World Cup semi-final, it has been some journey for this side.
Having a 13-0 lead against a side like France and not being able to see it through adds to the disappointment, with Hogan ruing Ireland's unable to build on their lead before half-time in the quarter-finals.
"Our coaches are veterans of that pitch, and the girls who play in Exeter at the moment, they knew what that pitch and that weather, you have to be going into half lead with a significant difference.
"Those 30 phases we had before half-time, if we converted one of them it may have been a different story, we might have just snook it.
"Fair play to France, they are a very aggressive and hard to break down outfit. Those 30 phases probably lit up their changing room at half-time.
"We weren't scared of it at half time, we probably just didn't do enough."
A World Cup which broke attendance records as hosts England were winners, it was arguably the most popular Women's Rugby World Cup.
An incredible atmosphere from the start, Hogan was full of praise for how the tournament was ran, and is confident it will increase the profile of women's rugby.
"They organised everything very well behind the scenes, and we can always thank them for that.
"Whenever we walked around the street there were Irish people everywhere. Whenever we went out for a coffee, Irish people stopped you on the street.
"They was a big crowd of them that watched our walk through on a random piece of grass in Brighton.
"It was something we never experienced before, it was really cool.
We are constantly telling people to jump on our green wave and to come back back our journey in a green jersey.
"England in that tournament showed exactly why we should.
"As such a young squad, we our just going to keep building, People don't realise how much energy and Irish squad gives you in a game."
Following surgery on her injury, Hogan is set to be out of action for another 12 weeks, which will put her in the frame for the start of the Celtic Challenge around Christmas.
A first surgery for the 27-year-old, Hogan spoke on the mental struggles of dealing with an injury after going out of the World Cup.
"It has been really tough, I won't lie. That first couple of weeks, you are away from the group, you are away from your structure, from what clothes you have to wear every day, someone doing your laundry, everything is done for us.
"That coming out of that bubble to being on your own and the feelings of not achieving what you wanted to achieve.
"Just speaking to each other, and saying that sentence of I don't feel good, and everyone else saying me too was nice, it was a weight lifted off my shoulder.
"You get into those spaces where you work so hard and didn't achieve, I don't have anything for another six months, you get yourself into all these little spirals.
"I am walking now and can go outside. Those little wins, you just need to make sure you are focused on the little wins and the support network around you."