Deneka Borden's return to rugby after serious injury!

After lots of hard work and dedication, Borden returns to international rugby

After four years, the accident that left Deneka nearly paralysed, she is back up and running discussing the journey back into international sevens circuit.

In 2006, Borden was involved in a serious car crash whilst she was asleep in the back seat. She has no memory of the accident that would change her life.

“Once they put the neck brace on, I felt like I couldn't breathe. So as soon as they fixed that and I felt like I could breathe, I was pretty calm. I felt like I was in good hands.

“So, the ambulance ride is pretty blurry, and even when I get to the hospital and they're running scans, I was in and out [of consciousness].”

In September, she heard amazing news that her neck bones had reconnected, the halo could be removed and replaced with a normal neck brace.

“He didn't want me to have any contact with anybody. So, even walking around town or going out to a restaurant I had to have the brace just so that other people knew to be careful around me.”

In December, Borden was able to start training again.

In 2017 she was able to start playing for her international side.

She has now chosen to take the role of assistant coach for the Bermuda women’s team and became one of the first female referees on the Caribbean island.

“My outlook is to do stuff now. If I want to travel somewhere, I want to do it now. If I want to work on my fitness, I'm not putting anything off”.

“It's just shifted my focus to just do what makes me happy. So, rugby makes me happy. Travelling makes me happy.”