Abi Burton’s Remarkable Comeback in Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

Abi Burton’s debut at the Women’s Rugby World Cup is honestly one of the wildest comebacks in sports. She spent nearly a month in a coma after doctors misdiagnosed her illness, but somehow, she fought her way back to help England thrash Samoa and reach the quarter-finals.

This World Cup, right on home turf, gives Burton a shot to show the world she’s more than just her medical history. Diagnosed with NMDAR antibody encephalitis—a rare autoimmune disorder—her recovery has been jaw-dropping.

Abi Burton’s Unyielding Spirit

Her nightmare started back in 2020 with a torn medial collateral ligament during the World Rugby Sevens Series in Spain. That injury was just the tip of the iceberg.

Things spiraled out of control, and by 2022, she was mistakenly sectioned and put into a medically induced coma. Doctors only figured out the real problem, NMDAR antibody encephalitis, after weeks of confusion and misdiagnosis.

This disorder turns the immune system against the brain’s receptors, causing inflammation, seizures, and all sorts of psychiatric symptoms. It’s as scary as it sounds.

The Misdiagnosis and Its Aftermath

At first, doctors thought she suffered from depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder. That wasn’t it. Her health kept getting worse—she started having seizures and slipped into a deep sadness her teammates thought was just injury blues.

Her parents, especially her mum Sarah, kept a journal to help her fill in the blanks. The hospital sectioned her after she lashed out aggressively, thinking she was a danger to others. It’s hard to imagine how terrifying that must’ve been for everyone involved.

The Road to Recovery

Once doctors got it right, Burton moved to Pinderfields Hospital. There, she endured plasma exchanges, steroids, and chemo—all while still in a coma. Recovery was slow, grueling, and honestly, pretty brutal.

She had to relearn basic movements and fight to regain her strength. She dropped a lot of weight. But she kept pushing, determined to get back to rugby.

In March 2025, she finally played her first post-recovery match at the Hong Kong 10s tournament. That moment meant everything.

Support from Family and Teammates

Her family, especially her dad Danny, was right there through it all. He had to make the gut-wrenching call to let doctors put her in a coma. Her parents even slept in their car outside the hospital, running on pure adrenaline and fear.

Her teammates never gave up on her either. They watched her comeback and stood by her every step. That kind of support isn’t something you forget.

Redefining Her Career

For Burton, returning to rugby wasn’t just about getting fit again. She wanted to reshape her career and figure out who she was, outside of her illness. She switched from rugby sevens to the classic 15-a-side game, hoping to make it to a World Cup with England.

Her hard work paid off. She got a call from the Red Roses in January 2025 and made her full debut by March. On top of that, she’s the head coach for Brunel University’s Women’s Programme, somehow juggling it all.

Impact on Women’s Rugby

Burton’s comeback highlights just how much women’s rugby is growing. The Red Roses have packed out Twickenham’s 82,000 seats for the World Cup final—who would’ve guessed that a few years ago?

Her journey is inspiring a whole new generation of players. It also shows how crucial it is to get the right diagnosis, especially with rare conditions like NMDAR antibody encephalitis.

Looking Forward

Burton’s still carving out her place in rugby, eyes set on what’s next. She’s open about the impact her illness had, but she’s not letting it be her whole story.

Instead, she’s using her experience to lift others up and keep the momentum going for women’s rugby. Her story? It’s a testament to grit, resilience, and the refusal to back down when life gets messy.

A Legacy of Resilience

Burton’s journey from a coma to the World Cup is remarkable. She’s shown what resilience and determination can really do.