Days are getting darker, the leaves are starting to turn and Twickenham is calling. After a grilling summer of football, it’s time to get set for a chilling autumn of rugby. Prior to the Women’s Rugby World Cup kicking off, Ellie Kildunne spoke about how the Lionesses have inspired her team ahead of their next tournament.
An immense moment in English football as the Lionesses retained the UEFA Women’s European Championship trophy following victory over Spain on penalties on Sunday 27 July 2025. Since then, the players have created history once again. The team celebrated on an open-top bus with over 65,000 dedicated fans gathered along the Mall and outside Buckingham Palace.
Kil-dunne-ing it
Not only have they inspired thousands of people, but they have sparked a surge of admiration from other professionals in women’s sport. Ellie Kildunne, who plays the full-back position for both the England national team and Harlequins Women, has publicly spoken about just how much the Euros win has meant to the Red Roses:
“We’re massively proud of the Lionesses. The ripple effect they’ve had on women’s football in England by being successful has been amazing.
As soon as I saw the start of that, it was something I wanted to do in rugby. I want more people to be involved in rugby. I want young boys and girls to know there’s an opportunity to play the game.”
World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Kildunne looks to spotlight women’s sport, joining the Lionesses in the history books.
“It’s a golden era of English women’s sport and how great it is to be a part of that,”
The team are preparing for their first game against the USA on Friday 22nd July. Hosted across England, the World Cup will see games being played in cities such as Bristol, Exeter and York.
Roses rise to the occasion
The team haven’t lost a game since they played New Zealand in the 2022 World Cup final. A firm favourite to win, the Red Roses prepare to reach this year’s final, set to take place at Allianz Stadium Twickenham on the 27th September.
The morning after the Euros final, the Red Roses showed up to training proudly wearing Lionesses football kit. Sporting names like Chloe Kelly, scorer of the Euro-winning goal, the players honoured the strides made in women’s football — and signalled that now it’s their time to shine.
Kildunne explains it was,
“only a few years ago that I had a conversation with my agent and I said how I thought there should be more brand opportunities for women in sport. Now, brands are getting on board. I feel very privileged, proud and grateful to be in the position where I can get supported by people who want to grow women’s rugby”.
The 25-year-old has already partnered with major brands including Asahi, Canterbury and LG, and her soaring popularity is cementing Kildunne as a new icon of British sport.
Red Roses – it’s over to you.
