An angled view of events in Monte Carlo this evening
Your new World 15s Player of the Year is Ellie Kildunne.
The previous three XV’s winners were: Marlie Packer (2023), Ruahei Demant (2022) and Zoe Aldcroft (2021), so that’s three England winners in four years. Add with Emily Scarratt (2019) and Sarah Hunter (2016), it truly has been a golden decade for English women’s rugby.
A few year’s ago a proud parent posted a clip of a 6-year-old Ellie playing rugby. She got knocked about a bit, but, after a few words of comfort, she was on her feet again, enjoying the game. The message then was ‘what a brave little girl.’
But to me the striking moment came at the end of the clip. Right over on the far side of the field there was Ellie, ball in hand, running at an opponent. Quite instinctively she produced her stop-and-go movement which flummoxes in exactly the same way today.
At a later stage of her career she played in an age-group European tournament in Vichy. She was surrounded by names that are familiar today, such as Helena Rowland. But Kildunne’s performances stood out as quite remarkable. England won the trophy at a canter, and no prizes for guessing who the Player of the Tournament was.
The only disturbing feature of that list of five English winners above concerns the presence of three northerners, Hunter (Tyne and Wear), Aldcroft and Kildunne (both Yorkshire). The list of Under 18s that James Cooper announced last week contains a single name that comes unmistakably from a northern county. A worrying change of course.
Other female players to win the big prizes were: the new World 7s Player of the Year, Maddison Levi (Australia), and the World Rugby Women’s Breakthrough Player of the Year, Erin King (Ireland). Her story, centred on Ireland’s defeat of the world champions, New Zealand, at the 2024 WXV1 in Vancouver has a fairytale ring to it.
The choice of a Dream Team was bound to cause a few raised eyebrows, though perhaps fewer than in the past. A reminder:
1 Hope Rogers (USA), 2 Georgia Ponsonby (New Zealand) 3 Maud Muir (England) 4 Zoe Aldcroft (England) 5 Laetitia Royer (Canada) 6 Aoife Wafer (Ireland) 7 Sophie de Goede (Canada) 8 Alex Matthews (England) 9 Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France) 10 Holly Aitchison (England) 11 Katelyn Vahaakolo (New Zealand) 12 Alex Tessier (Canada) 13 Sylvia Brunt (New Zealand) 14 Abby Dow (England) 15 Ellie Kildunne (England).
It’s good to see six nations represented, though the presence of six Red Roses can hardly surprise. As we take a second glance through, we can see one or two oddities. The deserving Sophie de Goede is slotted in on the open-side, rather than her prime position of No 8. But Kévin Rouet himself kept shifting her position, so we shouldn’t query that choice. On the other hand, injury can make a big difference. SDG was out for much of the year but retains her place. Did Maud Muir win the No 3 shirt because Sarah Bern was out of action for so long? Ditto Holly Aitchison, not Zoe Harrison? But I don’t want to jump into that hot-water tank.
Choosing a Try of the Year is always tough. I’m delighted the choice fell upon a piece of quick thinking that involved two players on the same wavelength: Lina Queyroi hoofed a long kick through that ran into touch. As the Canadian defender failed to take possession of it, Queyroi, following up at pace, seized hold and offered a quick line-out throw to Marine Ménager who crossed the line in splendid isolation.
The International Rugby Players Special Merit Award has gone to Vickii Cornborough. On the pitch she, like Matthews, did not wear her heart on her sleeve; so much of her contribution to the game went unnoticed by the general public. But she was tireless in several areas, ensuring the best playing conditions possible for women and girls.
Another unmentioned feature of her career: like Abbie Ward, she started a family, but unlike Abbie chose not to make it public. It was her negotiations that brought proper support for players who wanted to follow Abbie’s example.
The Problem of Choice
It’s so much easier deciding which box of chocolates to buy when the shop can offer you only one. Not so with the WR awards; they offer an array.
Many ardent Red Roses fans will feel that Alex Matthews deserves the top honour every bit as much as Ellie, and she has been performing at the highest level for far longer. We have to hope that Ellie’s cowboy celebration of her tries didn’t help her gain her reward; it’s hard to imagine Alex indulging in the same way. It’s vital that rugby quality alone should count.
Then we might cast a regretful look at Pauline Bourdon-Sansus. This is the third time she has found her name among the nominees, a remarkable achievement, but not once has luck tipped her way.
How far do social media play a leading role in choices these days? Those four nominees again: Kildunne, Matthews, PBS and Tessier. The first one has much the biggest worldwide presence there. Did the adjudicating panel pay attention to it? It’s far more likely that the global public did.
Fair Shares
I suggested in my preview to the awards, that it would be fairer if nobody were allowed to win the same award a second time. But once more it has happened. Standing alongside Kildunne under the spotlight was Pieter-Steph du Toit, the 2019 winner. He joins the illustrious Kiwis Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter and Richie McCaw in becoming a multiple winner.
A heavyweight boxing champion may retire undefeated after any number of title defences, and the world can only gawp with admiration. But honours such as those in Monte Carlo are of a different order, decreed, not by the players themselves, but by others, whether a panel of judges or the public at large.
These are just a few thoughts as rugby allows itself a rare public presence away from the field of play. If you recognised all the ladies in their evening finery, well done!
A great occasion, and many congratulations to all the deserving winners.
