Rugby Kildunne eager to follow in the footsteps of Wiegman's Lionesses

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.

- Ed ELLIOT

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, told the PA news agency.

“That's what the Euros have done for the Lionesses and the opportunity we've got with this World Cup is to have Kildunne shirts being sold on the side of the street; for young girls and boys to have posters of Emily Scarratt and Meg Jones on their walls and not just Jonny Wilkinson.

“I’m inspired by the Lionesses and what they've done for women’s football and I hope for nothing less (for women’s rugby) than what they've been able to achieve so far.”

England launch the World Cup on Friday, August 22 against the United States in Sunderland and will also face Samoa and Australia in Pool A.