Sadia Kabeya: ‘Meeting other players who resemble me helped me open up’

When the game concluded, a wave of relief swept through. Before a historic audience, she embraced her Red Roses colleague Lucy Packer and finally grasped that the her side had claimed the Rugby World Cup. The championship match versus Canada had been so “exhausting,” Kabeya found it difficult to accept they were international winners until she the final signal came. “It was amazing,” Kabeya says. “The final whistle was a lot of comfort, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve accomplished it.’”

England’s victory topped off a three-year reign, a unbeaten streak of 33 matches, but the broader influence is what Kabeya cherishes deeply. Notably, stepping off the squad vehicle to be met with throngs of fans and the applause from the packed stadium after the anthems.

“I find it hard to describe,” the 23-year-old flanker says. “The stadium entrance was unforgettable, a rare opportunity. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the diversity in it – families, people who are more youthful, more senior, loads of men coming to the game – it was massive. I definitely have to watch videos back to experience it again because I don’t think I captured it enough because I was a bit in amazement.

“You glance around and you observe the entire crowd. I think of the pointing fingers and being like: ‘Look, look.’ It was unreal. I quickly pulled out my phone, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was provided lasting recollections then she also created memories for supporters, with a player-of-the-final performance steering England to their 33-13 victory. Crowds chanted her well-known slogan at the title-winning party the next day, when the “Do, do, do Sadia Kabeya” chorus was led by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all occasions she couldn't foresee could be a possibility a decade ago.

Kabeya first started playing rugby about a short distance from the stadium, at the her school in her hometown. First participating with boys, she was supported by her coach and ex-international player Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she became part of a new squad, outside her home area, she felt she had to alter her behavior to fit in.

“It was in Richmond, which is a largely homogeneous neighborhood,” Kabeya says. “I was just starting out and I wanted to fit into the team so culturally I changed the songs I enjoyed, my speech patterns. I don’t speak how I used to speak when I was in secondary school but I was a proper south London girl when I moved to the area and I kind of wanted to change that and conceal my true identity.

“It’s only as I have gone along in the sport and found those with shared experiences and have helped me rediscover myself that I am finding [my] personality. I am authentic today.”

While encouraging future athletes, Kabeya has developed a product which will remove more barriers preventing participation. Collaborating with a partner, she has produced a unique rugby cap to shield different styles from friction, rubbing and dehydration.

“It’s been a process because we had to identify perfect textiles with how it can work and be breathable still as it has to be suitable for athletic use, where you’re losing fluids and facing physical demands but also keeping your hair safe.

“A protective cap is something that has been existing for decades, it’s not a groundbreaking concept. But to incorporate this element, it is such a minor adjustment but it can make such a big difference. In high school I used to improvise with household items because I didn’t want to get my hair messy but I enjoyed the game so it didn’t bother me.

I was a proper south London girl when I came to Richmond and I attempted to suppress that and hold back

“However, for certain individuals that would be enough. It would be: ‘I’m not playing because I prefer to avoid damage, I want to prevent damage.’ To have equipment that encourages participation or welcome additional athletes is important.”

The completion of the competition has been successful for the athlete. Her future games for the national team will be in the European championship in the spring, while in the meantime her priorities include the forthcoming domestic league for her side, Loughborough Lightning. In the three years between the last two World Cups, she found it rather difficult, facing physical issues and a “emotional struggle” during the previous competition: “I started assuming: ‘Oh I’ll be alright, I’ll be able to get through it.’

“I think the more difficult things became outside rugby, the more it affected her performance. I was able to go away and address the issues and speak to the right people to prepare psychologically for a global competition. I think, particularly in athletics, you frequently postpone action to attempt to make changes. However currently, having the resources and people who I can use consistently rather than facing problems later is huge.”