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The moment the final whistle blew, a wave of relief swept through. Before a historic audience, she hugged her England teammate Lucy Packer and then understood that the her side had claimed the Rugby World Cup. The final against Canada had been so “gruelling,” Kabeya found it tough to comprehend they were global titleholders until she the final signal came. “It was incredible,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of relief, a opportunity to relax and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s victory topped off a lengthy winning streak, a 33 consecutive victories, but the broader influence is what Kabeya recalls fondly. Notably, getting off the team bus to be welcomed by massive crowds and the roar from the 81,885-strong Twickenham crowd after the anthems.

“I can’t even explain it,” the England star says. “The stadium entrance was unforgettable, a once in a lifetime experience. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the diversity in it – parents and children, people who are more youthful, elderly, loads of men coming to the game – it was huge. I certainly need to review footage to experience it again because I believe I didn’t fully absorb it because I was a bit in awe.

“You look up and you notice all the spectators. I remember everyone pointing up and being like: ‘Check it out.’ It was unreal. I instantly reached for my device, I was like: ‘I have to record this.’”

If Kabeya was provided lasting recollections then she also created memories for supporters, with a starring display in the final steering England to their 33-13 victory. Crowds chanted her popular refrain at the Battersea Power Station celebrations the next day, when the “Sadia Kabeya chant” was initiated by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all occasions she couldn't foresee could be a reality a ten years back.

Kabeya first picked up a rugby ball about a short distance from the stadium, at the Harris city academy in the London borough of Croydon. Initially playing alongside the boys, she was supported by her coach and retired athlete Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she joined her first club, outside her home area, she felt she had to adjust her identity to fit in.

“It was in another part of town, which is a largely homogeneous neighborhood,” Kabeya says. “I was inexperienced and I wanted to fit into the team so culturally I changed my musical tastes, how I was speaking. I have changed my accent when I was in high school but I was a proper south London girl 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 found those with shared experiences and have brought me out of my shell again that I am finding [my] personality. I am true to who I am.”

In addition to motivating young players, Kabeya has developed a product which will eliminate obstacles deterring involvement. Collaborating with a partner, she has developed a specialized headgear to safeguard various textures from friction, rubbing and dehydration.

“It’s been a journey because we had to find the right material with how it can work and be breathable still as it has to be suitable for athletic use, where you’re perspiring and facing physical demands but also maintaining hair health.

“A rugby headgear is something that has been in use for ages, it’s not a novel invention. But to add this layer, it is such a tiny detail but it can make such a big difference. In high school I used to use makeshift protection because I aimed to maintain my hairstyle but I was passionate about rugby so it didn’t bother me.

I was a true local when I came to Richmond and I attempted to suppress that and conceal my true identity

“However, for other players that would be enough. It would be: ‘I’m staying away because I want to protect my hair, I don’t want to have breakage.’ To have gear that supports involvement or attract new players is huge.”

The ending of this World Cup cycle has been golden for Kabeya. Her next appearance in an England jersey will be in the Six Nations in April, while in the meantime her focus will be on the forthcoming domestic league for her team, Loughborough Lightning. In the period leading up to the tournament, she found it quite challenging, experiencing injuries and a “emotional struggle” during the recent tournament: “I entered believing: ‘Oh I’ll be alright, I’ll be able to get through it.’

“I think the harder her personal life was, the worse it got on pitch. I was capable of stepping back and address the issues and seek appropriate help to achieve optimal mental state for a global competition. I think, notably in competitive environments, you wait until you hit rock bottom to attempt to make changes. Whereas now, having the resources and people who I can use consistently rather than facing problems later is significant.”