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The moment the match ended, relief washed over. Before a historic audience, she hugged her England teammate Lucy Packer and only then realised that the Red Roses had won 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 final signal came. “It was incredible,” Kabeya says. “The final whistle was a lot of comfort, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s success concluded a lengthy winning streak, a 33-game winning run, but the wider effect is what Kabeya recalls fondly. Specifically, stepping off the squad vehicle to be welcomed by massive crowds and the cheers from over 81,000 spectators after the anthems.

“I struggle to put it into words,” the England star says. “The walk-in was amazing, a once in a lifetime experience. Just to witness the incredible backing, the mix of people – families, people who are younger, elderly, numerous guys in the stands – it was massive. I absolutely must see recordings to relive it because I believe I didn’t fully absorb it because I was a bit in awe.

“You glance around and you notice all the spectators. I recall people gesturing and being like: ‘Check it out.’ It was unreal. I got my phone out immediately, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was provided lasting recollections then she also gave spectators something to remember, with a award-winning match effort steering England to their 33-13 victory. Crowds chanted her now-familiar chant at the Battersea Power Station celebrations the following day, when the “Sadia Kabeya chant” chorus was led by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all moments she did not comprehend could be a reality a decade ago.

Kabeya first started playing rugby about a short distance from the stadium, at the her school in the London borough of Croydon. Starting out with male peers, she was motivated by an instructor and ex-international player Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she joined her first club, away from south London, she felt she had to alter her behavior to fit in.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was young and I wanted to fit into the team so I modified my preferences what music I was listening to, my way of talking. I have changed my accent when I was in high school but I was a proper south London girl when I came to Richmond and I felt the need to adjust and suppress myself.

“It’s only as I have advanced in my career and connected with similar individuals and have encouraged my authentic personality that I am finding [my] personality. I am true to who I am.”

While encouraging future athletes, Kabeya has created an item which will remove more barriers preventing participation. Teaming up with a brand, she has created a satin scrum cap to shield different styles from friction, rubbing and drying.

“It’s been a process because we had to source suitable fabric with how it can work and be breathable still 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 existing for decades, it’s not a novel invention. But to include this feature, it is such a small thing but it can have significant impact. In high school I used to play with a plastic bag on my head because I aimed to maintain my hairstyle but I was passionate about rugby so it didn't deter me.

I was a proper south London girl when I joined the club and I wanted to change that and hold back

“However, for other players that would be it. It would be: ‘I’m avoiding participation because I don’t want to do that to my hair, I aim to maintain health.’ To have gear that supports involvement or attract new players is significant.”

The completion of the competition has been golden for Kabeya. Her upcoming international matches will be in the European championship in April, while in the interim her priorities include the upcoming Premiership Women’s Rugby season for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the time before the championship, she found it quite challenging, dealing with setbacks and a “emotional struggle” during the recent tournament: “I came in thinking: ‘Oh I’ll be okay, I’ll be able to get through it.’

“I think the more difficult things became outside rugby, the worse it got on pitch. I was capable of stepping back and put in the effort and consult professionals to prepare psychologically for a global competition. I think, particularly in athletics, you often delay until crisis point to attempt to make changes. But today, utilizing available help and experts I can consult regularly as opposed to reacting to issues is important.”