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When the game concluded, a wave of relief swept through. Before a historic audience, she celebrated with fellow player Lucy Packer and then understood that the her side had claimed the Rugby World Cup. The clash with Canada had been so “exhausting,” Kabeya found it tough to comprehend they were international winners until she heard that sound. “It was amazing,” Kabeya says. “The full-time whistle was a lot of ease, a moment to exhale and then: ‘Wow, we’ve done it.’”

England’s victory topped off a lengthy winning streak, a unbeaten streak of 33 matches, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya remembers most. Specifically, exiting the team coach to be met with throngs of fans and the applause from the packed stadium after the anthems.

“I can’t even explain it,” the 23-year-old flanker says. “The team procession was spectacular, a rare opportunity. Just to see the amount of support, the mix of people – families, people who are more youthful, more senior, numerous guys in the stands – it was massive. I definitely have to watch videos back to relive it because I feel I missed some of it because I was a bit in amazement.

“You glance around and you observe the entire crowd. I remember everyone pointing up and being like: ‘Look, look.’ It was crazy. I got my phone out immediately, 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 leading the Red Roses to a decisive triumph. Crowds chanted her popular refrain at the Battersea Power Station celebrations the next 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 possibility a decade ago.

Kabeya first took up the sport 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 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 change parts of herself to fit in.

“It was in a different area, which is a mostly white community,” Kabeya says. “I was inexperienced and I wanted to fit into the team so I adjusted my habits the songs I enjoyed, my speech patterns. I have changed my accent 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 hold back.

“It’s only as I have gone along in the sport 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.”

While encouraging future athletes, Kabeya has created an item which will remove more barriers preventing participation. Working with her sponsor, she has created a satin scrum cap to shield different styles from abrasion, chafing and damage.

“It’s been a journey because we had to identify perfect textiles with how it can work and be breathable still 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 maintaining hair health.

“A scrum cap is something that has been around for a long, long time, it’s not a revolutionary idea. But to add this layer, it is such a small thing but it can make such a big difference. In high school I used to improvise with household items because I wanted to keep my hair neat but I was passionate about rugby so it didn’t bother me.

I was a true local when I joined the club and I wanted to change that and hold back

“However, for some girls that would be it. It would be: ‘I’m staying away because I want to protect my hair, I want to prevent damage.’ To have something that could keep people in the game or attract new players is huge.”

The conclusion of the tournament has been successful for the athlete. Her next appearance in an England jersey will be in the European championship in the spring, while in the interim her attention turns to the forthcoming domestic league for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the period leading up to the tournament, she found it rather difficult, dealing with setbacks and a “psychological challenge” during the recent tournament: “I started assuming: ‘Oh I’ll be fine, I’ll be able to ride it out.’

“I think the worse it got off pitch, the poorer she played. I was able to go away and address the issues and consult professionals to achieve optimal mental state for a World Cup. I think, especially in sport, you often delay until crisis point to attempt to make changes. However currently, utilizing available help and experts I can consult regularly as opposed to reacting to issues is significant.”