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When the final whistle blew, a wave of relief swept through. In front of a record crowd, she embraced her Red Roses colleague Lucy Packer and then understood that the Red Roses had won the Rugby World Cup. The championship match versus Canada had been so “gruelling,” Kabeya found it difficult to accept they were world champions until she heard that sound. “It was amazing,” Kabeya says. “The final whistle was a lot of relief, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve done it.’”

England’s triumph concluded a three-year reign, a 33-game winning run, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya recalls fondly. In particular, getting off the team bus 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 young forward says. “The team procession was spectacular, a rare opportunity. Just to witness the incredible backing, the variety present – households, people who are more youthful, elderly, loads of men coming to the game – it was immense. I certainly need to review footage to experience it again because I don’t think I captured it enough because I was a bit in amazement.

“You gaze upward and you observe the entire crowd. I think of the pointing fingers and being like: ‘See that.’ It was insane. I got my phone out immediately, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was granted unforgettable moments then she also gave spectators something to remember, with a award-winning match effort steering England to their 33-13 victory. Crowds chanted her popular refrain at the post-victory event the following day, when the “Sadia Kabeya chant” chorus was led by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all events she never imagined could be a actuality a ten years back.

Kabeya first picked up a rugby ball about in a nearby London area, at the a local institution 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 another part of town, which is a largely homogeneous neighborhood,” Kabeya says. “I was just starting out and I aimed to blend in so culturally I changed my musical tastes, my speech patterns. I no longer talk like I did when I was in secondary school but I was a typical resident when I joined the club and I kind of wanted to change that and conceal my true identity.

“It’s only as I have progressed in rugby and connected with similar individuals and have helped me rediscover myself that I am embracing my identity. I am true to who I am.”

In addition to motivating young players, 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 journey because we had to identify perfect textiles with how it can work and be breathable still as it has to be something you can wear in rugby, where you’re losing fluids and undergoing intense activity but also protecting your hair.

“A scrum cap is something that has been around for a long, long time, it’s not a novel invention. But to include this feature, it is such a tiny detail but it can have significant impact. In my younger days I used to improvise with household items because I aimed to maintain my hairstyle but I enjoyed the game so it didn’t bother me.

I was a true local when I came to Richmond and I wanted to change that and suppress myself

“However, for certain individuals that would be it. It would be: ‘I’m not playing because I don’t want to do that to my hair, I want to prevent damage.’ To have equipment that encourages participation or have people join the game is huge.”

The completion of the competition has been golden for Kabeya. Her upcoming international matches will be in the European championship in next season, while in the period before her focus will be on the next club competition for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the three years between the last two World Cups, she found it far from easy, experiencing injuries and a “mental dip” during the recent tournament: “I started assuming: ‘Oh I’ll be fine, I’ll be able to ride it out.’

“I think the worse it got off pitch, the more it affected her performance. I was capable of stepping back and address the issues and seek appropriate help to get myself in the best head space for a World Cup. I think, notably in competitive environments, you frequently postpone action to try and do something about it. However currently, having the resources and professionals I can rely on rather than facing problems later is significant.”