‘Rugby saved my life’ after abuse – Ireland’s Hogan

Warning: This article makes references to rape and sexual abuse.

“It has given me a lot of resilience.” I’m now 26 and have gone through many things in my life.

Brittany Hogan describes her life as going through “a lot.”

She claimed she was a victim of child sexual abuse when she was a child and that she now has the “confidence and courage” to tell her mother after watching a TV show.

She first discovered rugby at the age of 15 and thinks the sport “saved” her life as she pondered what to do next.

While her past is a part of her journey, she is determined that it will not define her either as she plays for Ireland at the World Cup.

The 26-year-old said, “I’ve had quite a lot of trauma.”

“One of the characters I was watching on Desperate Housewives actually experienced the same fate.”

Hogan had been attempting to process what had transpired on her own before speaking out about the abuse to her mother.

Before she started using therapy, she claimed, “it started entangling my personality and making me unhappy.”

“I’ve been going through counsellors and stuff ever since.” “I’ve been receiving therapy for about 12 years,” Hogan continued.

I make the decision to live my life happy because I’m a very happy person.

Hogan claims that rugby has given her “so much,” and that it just makes me smile.

She first joined her local club in Northern Ireland, Ballynahinch, and Ulster soon capped her career with a grade A.

The back row made her senior Ireland debut in the Covid-delayed Six Nations in October 2020 after beginning her international career in the sevens and competing at the Paris Olympics last year.

I adore everything about it. When I was 15 years old, I started playing rugby,” Hogan said.

Her grandfather passed away in August, and Hogan’s father passed away two years ago, and she has been through heartache.

She claims to be playing for them because the Ireland team has backed her.

In my life, those two men have a lot of influence. Both of them kind of sculpted me into who I am today.

I chose not to lie in my bed and worry or to be sad. I made the decision to represent both my teammates and myself.

Hogan, who won 35 caps for Ireland, is a key player and will start her second World Cup game against Spain on Sunday after winning the first Pool C game against Japan last week.

She continued, “Being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re weaker than others.”

“Just because I’ve gone through something doesn’t mean I don’t deserve to play for my country or have the same opportunities as other people.”

I’m not sure if I would have played for my country if I hadn’t gone through that. My character has already been created. I should be ready to depart right away.