Red Roses star Sadia Kabeya: Connecting with teammates who resemble me helped me open up’

The moment the game concluded, relief washed over. Before a historic audience, she celebrated with fellow player Lucy Packer and finally grasped that the her side had claimed the Rugby World Cup. The final against Canada had been so “exhausting,” Kabeya found it hard to believe they were world champions until she the final signal came. “It was incredible,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of relief, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s success capped a lengthy winning streak, a 33-game winning run, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya recalls fondly. Specifically, exiting the team coach to be greeted by thousands of supporters and the applause from the packed stadium after the anthems.

“I struggle to put it into words,” the England star says. “The stadium entrance was unforgettable, a rare opportunity. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the mix of people – parents and children, people who are more youthful, more senior, numerous guys in the stands – it was immense. I absolutely must see recordings to see it because I believe I didn’t fully absorb it because I was a bit in awe.

“You glance around and you notice all the spectators. I think of the pointing fingers and being like: ‘See that.’ It was crazy. I instantly reached for my device, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was granted unforgettable moments then she also created memories for supporters, with a player-of-the-final performance guiding her team to a 33-13 win. Fans voiced her now-familiar chant at the title-winning party the day after, when the “Do, do, do Sadia Kabeya” was initiated by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all moments she did not comprehend could be a reality a ten years back.

Kabeya first took up the sport about a short distance from the stadium, at the a local institution in the London borough of Croydon. Starting out with male peers, she was encouraged by the PE teacher and former England prop Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she joined her first club, outside her home area, she felt she had to alter her behavior to be accepted.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was inexperienced and I aimed to blend in so I modified my preferences my musical tastes, my way of talking. I have changed my accent when I was in my teens but I was a true local when I joined the club and I attempted to suppress that and conceal my true identity.

“It’s only as I have advanced in my career and connected with similar individuals and have encouraged my authentic personality that I am discovering my true self. I am myself now.”

In addition to motivating young players, Kabeya has created an item which will remove more barriers deterring involvement. Working with her sponsor, she has produced a unique rugby cap to shield different styles from abrasion, rubbing and drying.

“It’s been a journey because we had to identify perfect textiles with how it can perform without causing discomfort as it has to be something you can wear in rugby, where you’re losing fluids and getting through a lot of work but also keeping your hair safe.

“A rugby headgear is something that has been around for a long, long time, it’s not a revolutionary idea. But to add this layer, it is such a small thing but it can make such a big difference. In high school I used to use makeshift protection because I aimed to maintain my hairstyle but I was passionate about rugby so it didn’t bother me.

I was a true local when I moved to the area and I felt the need to adjust and hold back

“However, for certain individuals that would be the end. It would be: ‘I’m avoiding participation because I don’t want to do that to my hair, I want to prevent damage.’ To have gear that supports involvement or welcome additional athletes is huge.”

The ending of this World Cup cycle has been successful for the athlete. Her future games for the national team will be in the Six Nations in April, while in the period before her focus will be on the upcoming Premiership Women’s Rugby season for her side, Loughborough Lightning. In the period leading up to the tournament, she found it quite challenging, facing physical issues and a “emotional struggle” during the recent tournament: “I started assuming: ‘Oh I’ll be fine, I’ll be able to handle it.’

“I think the worse it got off pitch, the poorer she played. I was able to go away and put in the effort and speak to the right people to achieve optimal mental state for a World Cup. I think, especially in sport, you frequently postpone action to try and do something about it. However currently, having the resources and experts I can consult regularly as opposed to reacting to issues is significant.”