As the pre-eminent face of women’s rugby in England, Ellie Kildunne became used to breaking fresh ground long ago.
But after lifting the World Cup with England in 2025, the England full back hopes her nomination for Thursday’s Sports Personality of the Year award can help drive the profile of the female game in her country to a whole new level.
The 26-year-old is the first female rugby player to be shortlisted for the BBC gong and the first English rugby ace since Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson in 2007. At a time when rugby is struggling for eyeballs in comparison to other sports, Kildunne’s Sports Personality presence is a timely boost for the 15-a-side game.
England’s 2003 men’s World Cup hero Wilkinson is the only rugby player to have ever won SPOTY.
‘To be the first female rugby player ever to be nominated is a huge honour,’ Kildunne said.
‘We’ve been told no-one’s going to watch women’s rugby and no-one’s bothered, so to be able to say I’ve been nominated for something as big as Sports Personality is something I’m hugely proud of.
Ellie Kildunne is hoping BBC Sports Personality of the Year nomination can help women’s rugby become more popular
Kildunne is battling the likes of golf star Rory McIlroy (pictured) to win the award
‘It’s something I’ve got to pinch myself about given the number of fantastic sports stars that could have been nominated.’
Golf star Rory McIlroy is favourite to win the award, which is voted for by the public, after a memorable 2025 which saw him seal a thrilling Masters title and help Europe to win the Ryder Cup. Formula One world champion Lando Norris, darts star Luke Littler and Lionesses Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton complete the list of six possible winners.
The presence of Kildunne and women’s football stars Kelly and Hampton among such prestigious company reflects the extraordinary growth of female sport in England this year.
Kelly and Hampton helped England’s footballers to retain their European Championship crown with a penalty shootout victory over Spain in July. With Kildunne as their leading light, England’s women’s rugby stars followed suit by winning the World Cup on home soil. Their final victory over Canada was played in front of a record crowd of 81,885 with a television audience of 5.8million on the BBC.
Both the Lionesses and Red Roses are nominated for the team of the year award, alongside golf’s Team Europe.
‘It (women’s rugby) is on a trajectory I can’t really keep up with and can’t imagine where it’s going to go,’ said Kildunne, whose profile has gone to another level post World Cup, earning her a string of sponsorship deals. ‘The visibility and accessibility women’s rugby has now got is way higher than we could have ever thought. I just hope it keeps on this trajectory.’