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When the final whistle blew, Sadia Kabeya felt immense relief. Before a historic audience, she celebrated with fellow player Lucy Packer and only then realised that the England team had secured the Rugby World Cup. The championship match versus Canada had been so “gruelling,” Kabeya found it hard to believe they were world champions until she heard that sound. “It was incredible,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of comfort, a chance to breathe out and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s triumph capped a dominant three years, a unbeaten streak of 33 matches, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya recalls fondly. In particular, stepping off the squad vehicle to be greeted by thousands of supporters and the roar from the 81,885-strong Twickenham crowd after the anthems.

“I struggle to put it into words,” the young forward says. “The team procession was spectacular, a once in a lifetime experience. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the variety present – parents and children, people who are younger, older, loads of men coming to the game – it was massive. I definitely have to watch videos back to relive it because I don’t think I captured it enough because I was a bit in shock.

“You glance around and you notice all the spectators. I think of the pointing fingers and being like: ‘Check it out.’ It was insane. I instantly reached for my device, I was like: ‘I need to film this.’”

If Kabeya was granted unforgettable moments then she also gave spectators something to remember, with a player-of-the-final performance leading the Red Roses to a decisive triumph. Fans voiced her well-known slogan at the title-winning party the next day, when the “Sadia Kabeya chant” was sung by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all occasions she couldn't foresee could be a reality a decade ago.

Kabeya first took up the sport about in a nearby London area, at the Harris city academy in her hometown. Initially playing alongside the boys, she was motivated by an instructor and retired athlete Bryony Cleall to follow her passion. When she started at her initial team, in a different locale, she felt she had to change parts of herself to be accepted.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was inexperienced and I hoped to be accepted so I modified my preferences the songs I enjoyed, how I was speaking. I no longer talk like I did when I was in my teens but I was a proper south London girl when I moved to the area and I kind of wanted to change that and hold back.

“It’s only as I have gone along in the sport and met other people who look like me and have helped me rediscover myself that I am discovering my true self. I am myself now.”

In addition to motivating young players, Kabeya has designed gear which will eliminate obstacles deterring involvement. Working with her sponsor, she has developed a specialized headgear to shield different styles from abrasion, rubbing and damage.

“It’s been a development because we had to find the right material with how it can function while allowing airflow as it has to be appropriate for the sport, where you’re sweating and facing physical demands but also keeping your hair safe.

“A protective cap is something that has been in use for ages, it’s not a groundbreaking concept. But to include this feature, it is such a small thing but it can create substantial change. In secondary school I used to play with a plastic bag on my head because I wanted to keep my hair neat but I was passionate about rugby so it wasn't an issue.

I was a true local when I joined the club and I attempted to suppress that and hold back

“However, for some girls that would be enough. It would be: ‘I’m avoiding participation because I want to protect my hair, I aim to maintain health.’ To have something that could keep people in the game or attract new players is significant.”

The conclusion of the tournament has been triumphant for the player. Her future games for the national team will be in the Six Nations in April, while in the interim her attention turns to the upcoming Premiership Women’s Rugby season for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the period leading up to the tournament, she found it far from easy, experiencing injuries and a “psychological challenge” during the previous competition: “I entered believing: ‘Oh I’ll be alright, I’ll be able to get through it.’

“I think the worse it got off pitch, the more it affected her performance. I was willing to take time and do the work and consult professionals to get myself in the best head space for a World Cup. I think, particularly in athletics, you often delay until crisis point to attempt to make changes. Whereas now, utilizing available help and professionals I can rely on as opposed to reacting to issues is important.”