Hogan was player of the match against Japan in the World Cup and, afterwards, was approached by a middle-aged man who had heard her story
An encounter with a supporter after Ireland’s World Cup win over Japan underlined to Brittany Hogan that she was right to speak out about the abuse she suffered as a child. The Ulster rugby star had previously revealed that, growing up, she was a victim of child sexual abuse and that she believed rugby saved her life when she started playing it at the age of 15.
Now a Tackle Your Feelings ambassador, Hogan, from Killinchy, Co Down, explained the impact that speaking out for the first time a couple of years ago has had, on and off the pitch. “Showing vulnerability allows people to connect with you,” she said. “And if I show vulnerability, it gives you more of a chance to show yours. It gives you more courage, it gives you more confidence to enlighten me with anything that you’re going through.
“That kind of connection off the pitch just makes you grow stronger – I’ll play an extra metre, I’ll play an extra few minutes because I know exactly who you are and I’ll trust you more. The connection is so important and such an important piece, and especially women’s sports.
“If women connect and if they believe that they will achieve, they will. Whereas if like with lads, for them to connect, they have to show that they can perform. So that off the pitch piece is huge. It’s vital.”
Hogan was Ireland’s player of the match against Japan in their World Cup opener in August and, afterwards, was approached by a middle-aged man who had heard her story. He had watched England’s opening game two days earlier and then made the decision to come to Northampton to support the 26-year-old.
“He said, ‘I just wanted to meet you in person and to tell you that what you’re doing is for our community, for people who have gone through what we’ve gone through, it’s amazing, and I thank you for showing that it’s okay for younger people and for people with platforms or visibility to speak about’,” recalled Hogan.
“So that really touched my heart. And I think that it just shows that it’s worthwhile, because I know it’s worthwhile within my squad. It makes me an approachable person for people to like, I love whenever people open up to me. It’s all relative to the person. I love chatting away, I’m such a yapper.
“But that kind of experience from off the field of not just younger people, but even older people coming and saying what you’ve done and what you’ve said has touched me and thank you so much. It’s just amazing that you’d be able to experience your story with other people. It’s great.”
Hogan is two weeks into a 12-week rehab after suffering an MCL injury in the quarter-final defeat to France. After the heartbreak of not qualifying for the previous World Cup, she feels more positive about the impact that Ireland’s progress has had around the country – and has a taste now for life at that elite level of the game.
“The World Cup has given me a lease of life playing in highly competitive games against highly competitive opponents,” said the back row. “And I’m hungry to play them again and to work with and against high-class opposition. Whatever is in my future, I’m hoping to take on, wherever that takes me in the next few months,
“And I’m really excited to play in the Six Nations, playing in the Aviva, at Twickenham and over in France again. It’s trying to get myself in the peak condition I can to perform in those tournaments because we’re playing France again and hopefully give them a bit of what it tastes like.”
If this article has affected you, you can contact Samaritans for free, confidential emotional support by calling 116 123, emailing jo@samaritans.org, or visiting www.samaritans.org to find out more.
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