Sadia Kabeya takes to rugby’s biggest stage determined to show the next generation of young black girls their dreams can come true.
Kabeya plays in front of a world record crowd for women’s rugby on Saturday when she starts for England against France at Twickenham. At stake is the Six Nations grand slam and 53,000 tickets have already been sold.
“I don’t have many moments where I just sit down and breathe but any time I do I have to pinch myself,” she said. “No way would I have ever thought I’d be here on this stage.
“For a black girl from south London who’d never watched rugby in my life to now be running out to play for England at 21 is amazing and very humbling.”
Eight years ago, the course of her life changed when she was pulled out of a Year 8 science class at school, given a pair of rugby boots from lost property and asked to make ups the numbers.
A teacher by the name of Bryony Cleall then told her there was no reason she should not one day represent her country.
The same Bryony Cleall that last year Kabeya played alongside for England against the United States.
“Until then I didn’t really have any aspirations to play for England, I was playing just because I enjoyed it,” she said. “But seeing Bryony in my school who played for England made me believe it was something I could do.”
Kabeya was further inspired by England back row Shaunagh Brown, first as a role model, later a team mate.
“Having someone as supportive as Shaunagh was huge for me,” she said. "Now I'm really passionate about being that person for other young black girls coming into the sport."
Saturday’s game is England’s biggest since November when their 30-Test winning streak came to an end in the World Cup final against hosts New Zealand.
Kabeya, 21, responded to that devastating loss by insisting on social media that “the fire stays lit”.
This is the first opportunity to prove it against world class opposition, in what is the final game in charge for head coach Simon Middleton and his assistant Scott Bemand.
Marlie Packer is fit to captain the side from openside while Helena Rowland makes her first start of the tournament at outside centre.
France pushed England all the way at the World Cup when Middleton’s team were accused of being too ‘one dimensional’ by relying on their forward muscle.
“People have seen in this tournament that we’re not a one-trick pony,” countered Kabeya. “And that is something I’m sure France will be wary about.”
