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The moment the game concluded, Sadia Kabeya felt immense relief. With a massive turnout watching, she hugged her England teammate Lucy Packer and finally grasped that the England team had secured the Rugby World Cup. The championship match versus Canada had been so “demanding,” Kabeya found it hard to believe they were international winners until she the whistle blew. “It was unbelievable,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of relief, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s triumph capped a lengthy winning streak, a unbeaten streak of 33 matches, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya cherishes deeply. Specifically, stepping off the squad vehicle to be greeted by thousands of supporters and the cheers from over 81,000 spectators after the anthems.

“I struggle to put it into words,” the 23-year-old flanker says. “The walk-in was amazing, a once in a lifetime experience. Just to witness the incredible backing, the diversity in it – households, people who are more youthful, more senior, numerous guys in the stands – it was immense. I absolutely must see recordings to relive it because I feel I missed some of it because I was a bit in amazement.

“You look up and you notice all the spectators. I recall people gesturing and being like: ‘Check it out.’ It was crazy. I quickly pulled out my phone, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was left with lifelong memories then she also gave spectators something to remember, with a starring display in the final guiding her team to a 33-13 win. Thousands sang her now-familiar chant at the post-victory event the next day, when the “celebratory tune” was initiated by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all events she never imagined could be a actuality a decade ago.

Kabeya first took up the sport about a short distance from the stadium, at the her school in the London borough of Croydon. Starting out with male peers, she was encouraged by the PE teacher and ex-international player Bryony Cleall to follow her passion. When she started at her initial team, in a different locale, she felt she had to alter her behavior to belong.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was just starting out and I aimed to blend in so I adjusted my habits my musical tastes, my speech patterns. I don’t speak how I used to speak when I was in high school but I was a typical resident when I joined the club and I felt the need to adjust and suppress myself.

“It’s only as I have progressed in rugby and connected with similar individuals and have helped me rediscover myself that I am discovering my true self. I am authentic today.”

While encouraging future athletes, Kabeya has created an item which will eliminate obstacles deterring involvement. Collaborating with a partner, she has developed a specialized headgear to shield different styles from friction, rubbing and damage.

“It’s been a development because we had to source suitable fabric with how it can perform without causing discomfort as it has to be appropriate for the sport, where you’re perspiring and getting through a lot of work but also protecting your hair.

“A rugby headgear is something that has been in use for ages, it’s not a novel invention. But to incorporate this element, it is such a small thing but it can create substantial change. In my younger days I used to play with a plastic bag on my head because I wanted to keep my hair neat but I loved the sport so it wasn't an issue.

I was a typical resident when I joined the club and I wanted to change that and suppress myself

“However, for certain individuals that would be enough. It would be: ‘I’m staying away because I don’t want to do that to my hair, I aim to maintain health.’ To have something that could keep people in the game or have people join the game is important.”

The completion of the competition has been successful for the athlete. Her upcoming international matches will be in the international tournament in April, while in the interim her priorities include the next club competition for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the period leading up to the tournament, she found it quite challenging, facing physical issues and a “emotional struggle” during the recent tournament: “I entered believing: ‘Oh I’ll be fine, I’ll be able to ride it out.’

“I think the more difficult things became outside rugby, the more it affected her performance. I was capable of stepping back and do the work and speak to the right people to get myself in the best head space for a major tournament. I think, notably in competitive environments, you often delay until crisis point to seek solutions. Whereas now, accessing support systems and professionals I can rely on rather than facing problems later is huge.”