Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini is "ready for the tough road ahead" after a successful ACL surgery.
Hirini was hurt during the Dubai Sevens tournament earlier this month and while initially it wasn't certain how serious her injury was, a return to New Zealand confirmed she would require surgery.
The 30-year-old took to social media this morning to confirm she had made it through the operation, posting a picture from her hospital bed with a thumbs up and a grin.
"ACL surgery all done," Hirini wrote.
"Appreciate everyone that has reached out and messaged, ready for the tough road ahead."
Hirini will be hoping that road still leads to Paris, although it'll be a tight timeline with the Olympic Games being held in July.
Recovery from an ACL injury typically takes between nine months to a year, but in recent times some athletes have managed to recover earlier for big events such as Kane Williamson at the Cricket World Cup.
Black Ferns Sevens coach Cory Sweeney said they would be working closely with Hirini in the new year.
“First and foremost, our thoughts are with her as she begins her rehab journey," Sweeney said.
"She is a special athlete and human. We will work closely with her and the medical staff to hopefully see her return to the field next year.”
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