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Post-World Cup emotional dip for England star
England full-back Ellie Kildunne has spoken about feeling "really alone" after the high of winning the Rugby World Cup, describing a sharp contrast between the tournament's euphoria and her return to club rugby.
The highs and lows of a World Cup winner
Kildunne, 26, played a pivotal role in England's victory over Canada in September, scoring a standout solo try at a packed 82,000-seat Allianz Stadium. The win marked England's first World Cup title in 11 years. However, just four weeks later, she found herself back at Harlequins, playing in front of 2,929 fans at Twickenham Stoop.
"You are playing in front of a sold-out crowd at Allianz, you have just won a World Cup, and the next minute you are back playing over the road in front of a slither of the amount of people," Kildunne told BBC Sport. "There was that little bit of a dip in 'why am I doing this?'"
A personal drive for excellence
Kildunne admitted her self-expectations are relentless. "If I played 8/10, then I feel I might as well have played 2/10," she said. "I am going to have the highest standards for myself to keep on striving to get better."
The isolation of returning to her home in Reading after the tournament added to her emotional struggle. "I went from playing Guitar Hero every night with my team-mates to going back to living on my own. Suddenly I was like 'wow, I feel really alone.' It made me value the times that I have got with people."
Resilience through pressure
Kildunne's journey through the World Cup was not without challenges. She missed England's quarter-final win over Scotland due to a concussion sustained in the final pool match against Australia, a game where she acknowledged underperforming. "I probably didn't have my best game against Australia for quite a few reasons," she reflected.
Despite the setback, she returned for the semi-final against France, scoring twice-including another solo try-to silence any doubts about her form. "I don't crumble under that pressure-I kind of rise to it," she said, crediting her support system for her ability to thrive in high-stakes moments.
Looking ahead: Six Nations and beyond
Harlequins, Kildunne's club, currently sit four points off the play-off spots in the Premiership Women's Rugby table. She has since rediscovered her motivation, with England's Six Nations opener against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday drawing over 70,000 ticket sales.
"It would be very special to return to represent England at the venue where I won the World Cup," Kildunne said. In December, she scored another individual try at Allianz Stadium during Harlequins' victory over Bristol Bears.
While England aims for an eighth consecutive Six Nations title under coach John Mitchell, Kildunne's ambitions stretch further. "I still want to be the best player in the world and to keep on playing my rugby," she said. "I want to win another World Cup. I want to win a Prem. There is so much I still want to do."
Key facts
- Kildunne has earned 57 caps for England.
- The 2029 World Cup in Australia is a long-term goal for the full-back.
