England wing Claudia MacDonald says she has overcome her fear of leaving the house after recovering from a second neck injury to return to the Red Roses set-up.

MacDonald, who can also play at scrum-half, was ruled out of last year’s Women’s Six Nations after suffering a second neck injury in February 2024.

It followed her first neck injury in 2022, which made the Exeter Chiefs utility back consider retirement.

The 29-year-old returned to the field in Exeter’s Premiership Women’s Rugby defeat by eventual champions Gloucester-Hartpury in December 2024 and has since been recalled to England’s Six Nations squad.

Speaking before the Roses begin the defence of their title against Italy in York on Sunday, MacDonald said she was “terrified” of being near anything rugby related.

“I made a tackle and the next second I was on the floor not able to move my arms or legs so it was pretty scary in the first few moments,” said MacDonald on Wednesday.

“In the first couple of months, playing wasn’t even on the radar – it was about trying to get my mind around what had happened.

“I was terrified to be anywhere near a rugby pitch or a rugby ball. I didn’t want to have my back away from the wall as I didn’t want anything behind me because I was scared of being knocked.

“I barely left my house and I was told not to go in a car so it was all quite scary but thankfully we got past all of that.”

MacDonald says she had to learn to trust her body again – but being reunited with her club-mates reminded her why she wanted to return to action.