Red Roses yearning to follow in footsteps

WORLD player of the year Ellie Kildunne intends to emulate Lionesses star Chloe Kelly by ensuring her name is printed on fans’ shirts following the Women's Rugby World Cup.

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The Harlequins fullback is brimming with confidence ahead of her country's quest for global glory on home soil and has taken inspiration from England's footballers retaining the European Championship title. Arsenal forward Kelly played a starring role in the Euro 2025 triumph in Switzerland after propelling herself into the limelight by scoring the winning goal in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.

Kildunne is key to the Red Roses’ ambitions of lifting silverware at Twickenham next month and hopes the team can follow in the Lionesses' footsteps by becoming household names and raising the profile of women's sport. “Outside this pub, there are Chloe Kelly shirts being sold on the street,” Kildunne, who is supporting Asahi Super Dry's campaign to have the tournament shown in pubs across the UK, said.