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When the game concluded, relief washed over. Before a historic audience, she embraced her Red Roses colleague Lucy Packer and finally grasped that the Red Roses had won the Rugby World Cup. The final against Canada had been so “gruelling,” Kabeya found it difficult to accept they were international winners until she heard that sound. “It was unbelievable,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of ease, a chance to breathe out and then: ‘Wow, we’ve accomplished it.’”

England’s triumph topped off a three-year reign, a unbeaten streak of 33 matches, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya remembers most. Notably, exiting the team coach 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 unique moment. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the variety present – families, people who are younger, more senior, loads of men coming to the game – it was immense. I certainly need to review footage to experience it again because I feel I missed some of it because I was a bit in shock.

“You look up and you notice all the spectators. I recall people gesturing and being like: ‘Look, look.’ It was crazy. I got my phone out immediately, I was like: ‘I must capture this.’”

If Kabeya was left with lifelong memories then she also created memories for supporters, with a starring display in the final steering England to their 33-13 victory. Thousands sang her popular refrain at the title-winning party the day after, when the “Do, do, do Sadia Kabeya” chorus was led by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all events she never imagined could be a actuality a decade ago.

Kabeya first took up the sport about in a nearby London area, at the a local institution in her hometown. Initially playing alongside the boys, she was motivated by an instructor and ex-international player Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she became part of a new squad, away from south London, she felt she had to adjust her identity to be accepted.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was just starting out and I hoped to be accepted so I modified my preferences the songs I enjoyed, my speech patterns. I no longer talk like I did when I was in secondary school but I was a proper south London girl when I joined the club and I kind of wanted to change that and conceal my true identity.

“It’s only as I have advanced in my career and found those with shared experiences and have encouraged my authentic personality that I am discovering my true self. I am authentic today.”

While encouraging future athletes, Kabeya has developed a product which will remove more barriers deterring involvement. Teaming up with a brand, she has developed a specialized headgear to shield different styles from abrasion, irritation and damage.

“It’s been a journey because we had to identify perfect textiles with how it can perform without causing discomfort as it has to be something you can wear in rugby, where you’re losing fluids and getting through a lot of work but also protecting your hair.

“A protective cap is something that has been in use for ages, it’s not a groundbreaking concept. But to add this layer, it is such a minor adjustment but it can make such a big difference. In high school I used to improvise with household items because I didn’t want to get my hair messy but I was passionate about rugby so it didn't deter me.

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

“However, for some girls that would be it. It would be: ‘I’m avoiding participation because I prefer to avoid damage, I want to prevent damage.’ To have equipment that encourages participation or attract new players is huge.”

The conclusion of the tournament has been successful for the athlete. Her future games for the national team will be in the international tournament in April, while in the meantime 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 rather difficult, experiencing injuries and a “psychological challenge” during the recent tournament: “I came in thinking: ‘Oh I’ll be okay, 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 put in the effort and speak to the right people to achieve optimal mental state for a global competition. I think, especially in sport, you wait until you hit rock bottom to try and do something about it. Whereas now, utilizing available help and people who I can use consistently rather than facing problems later is important.”