‘Kildunne and Dusted’: Red Roses dialled up to 11 for emotional World Cup victory | Robert Kitson
Shaggy-haired secret weapon Ellie Kildunne settles England’s early nerves against Canada for a feelgood triumph that will echo down the years
They think it’s all over. And finally, for England’s women, it is now. The last time the Red Roses lifted the World Cup was 11 years ago and defeat on home turf in front of a world-record 81,885 crowd would have been beyond devastating. Hence the tears of relief and shared collective joy at the final whistle as they finally brought the big one home.
Among other things this trophy has brought them the validation they dearly wanted and, in truth, needed. Since the introduction of full-time professional contracts in 2019, the Red Roses have won 74 of the 76 matches they have contested. The number of registered female participants in Canadian rugby would barely fill half of England’s towering citadel.