Ellie Kildunne targeted creating a ‘dynasty’ with England after sealing more Women’s Six Nations glory and adding one of rugby’s top awards to her already-glowing CV.
Kildunne was player of the match and scored twice as John Mitchell’s Red Roses extended their winning run to 38 games and sealed a record eighth consecutive women’s Championship title and a fifth successive Grand Slam with a 43-28 win over France.
The star full-back followed that up on Monday by taking home the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2025-2026.
It continued a remarkable season for the 26-year-old, who was the star of England’s Women’s World Cup glory last year.
In the past 12 months, Kildunne has also finished runner-up to golfing superstar Rory McIlroy at BBC Sports Personality of the Year, been awarded an MBE and seen her profile go to a whole new level on and off the field.
‘We are always going to fight and make sure we are creating a team that is going to create a dynasty,’ Kildunne said, after a thrilling game in Bordeaux.
Ellie Kildunne wants to create a ‘dynasty’ of success with England after more Six Nations glory
Kildunne (right top) celebrates beating France in Bordeaux as Megan Jones lifts the trophy
Red Roses coach John Mitchell said his team’s extraordinary achievements mean they deserve to be considered among the best rugby sides of all time and Kildunne agreed.
‘If you are going to go off of stats it probably is [true],’ she said.
‘You can’t misjudge success. We train and work so hard to keep on being successful.
‘We know everyone is chasing our tail and everyone wants to be the first team that beats England, but we keep on showing the world we are here to stay and be that successful team.
‘We should be [compared] to the greatest ever out there.’
England’s latest success came despite Mitchell being without four key players due to pregnancy and his team suffering a string of injuries across the Six Nations.
‘If you look at the World Cup, the squad has changed massively since then whether that is through retirement, pregnancy or injury,’ Kildunne said.
Kildunne took home the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2025-2026
‘This feels like the start of something new. ‘We want to be a team that wins back-to-back World Cups.
‘We will never be comfortable with winning however many Grand Slams or winning World Cups. We always want more. We always want better.
‘We will keep pushing this team to heights that it has never been to before.’
Kildunne succeeds France star Louis Bielle-Biarrey as holder of the Rugby Union Writers’ Club Pat Marshall Memorial Award and is the 50th winner.
She is the fourth woman to claim the award after Maggie Alphonsi (2010), Emily Scarratt (2014) and Sarah Hunter (2022).
