'Heartbroken' player's emotional video pays for £10k medical bill
Exeter lock Charlie Willett has successfully raised enough funds to pay the hefty medical bill she was left with after suffering a horrible knee injury when representing the Ireland rugby league team earlier this month. In an emotional video that she described as the hardest she ever had to record, the 27-year-old explained she had never felt so let down by sport.
Appearing on crutches in tearful TikTok footage, Willett said: “I tore my meniscus in two places and dislocated my knee playing Test match rugby league for Ireland and now I have a £10,000 medical bill that I can’t pay.
“Rugby League Ireland had told me before I had agreed to play any Test matches that there was medical cover. I am a full-time athlete so it was really important to me but now that I am injured, they have said they are actually not going to pay for it.
“They have offered me a pretty small amount of money towards it but it by no means covers any sort of surgery. I am just heartbroken. My only option at the moment is a gofundme page. I don’t know why but I feel really embarrassed saying this, but I’ll put the link in my bio if anyone wants to help. I know I am going to come back stronger from this but right now it’s really hard.”
On her gofundmepage, Willett added: “Exeter Chiefs have supported my initial rehab process and will provide the necessary care post-surgery. As this injury was sustained whilst playing for Ireland, Exeter Chiefs cannot assist further.
https://www.tiktok.com/@charlierugby_/video/7159589181742796037?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7124701538375288325
“Last year I gave up my full-time career as a sports lawyer to pursue rugby. Alongside full-time training, I work as a freelancer and collaborator with multiple brands to amplify the stories within women’s rugby. In the few weeks since the injury, I have lost more than £1,500 worth of work as a result and until I am mobile these losses are likely to continue.
“Despite physical, emotional and financial distress, I am hopeful that I will make a full return to elite rugby and show more young girls and women the life-changing power of sports.”
Having started the fund-raiser at the start of this week, Willett woke up on Saturday to learn that the £10,000 target had been surpassed as 559 donations had committed a total of £10,527.
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Obviously a convincing win for the Boks, but they will be disappointed with the scoring efficiency. The general stats are off the charts, with plenty of possession and territory, line breaks, running meters, set piece success etc. But there were long periods without scoring. And specifically the outside backs (Kolbe, Arendse and Fassi) were less productive in scoring tries than you would have expected with the comprehensive core dominance that SA had. Also, the SA bench promised to upgrade a third string front row and third string half-back pairing to something closer to first choice selections, which could have triggered a points fest in the fourth quarter, but that did not materilaize. Additionally the Boks will be disappointed that Wales scored any tries at all.
Go to commentsIt didn't work against the Boks in 2 tests this year. They also lost by more points this year than in the final last year. How would they be WC Champions now? Get real please
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