#3. ELLIE KILDUNNE
At a mere 18 years old and with just a handful of senior matches to her name, Ellie made a remarkable impact by scoring a try on her England 15s debut. This memorable moment occurred when she entered the field as a substitute against Canada in the autumn of 2017.
Ellie’s journey in rugby traces back to her roots in rugby league, where she began her sporting endeavors at Keighley Rugby Union Football Club while growing up in West Yorkshire. Her exceptional performances during the inaugural Premier 15s season with Gloucester earned her five additional starts for the Red Roses in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations.
Transitioning seamlessly from 15s to sevens in August 2018, Ellie continued to shine, tallying nine tries in just eight appearances for the Red Roses. Her dedication to the sport led her to join Wasps in 2020, where she committed her focus to XVs, culminating in a victory at the 2021 Six Nations. Subsequently, she made a move to Harlequins in 2021, further solidifying her presence in the rugby world.
Ellie’s contributions continued to grow as she remained an integral part of the Red Roses’ lineup, participating in the 2021 autumn international squad and securing another Six Nations victory in 2022. She played a pivotal role in the squad’s journey to the final of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and contributed to their triumphant Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023.
Her achievements were further recognized when she featured in the Red Roses squad during their title-winning campaign at the inaugural WXV1 tournament in New Zealand. Most recently, Ellie’s excellence earned her a spot in John Mitchell’s squad for the 2024 Guinness Women’s Six Nations, highlighting her continued impact and significance in the sport.