Ellie Kildunne and Canterbury of New Zealand collaborate on world-first boot design

Canterbury of New Zealand has announced a world-first in rugby footwear: a ground-breaking boot designed in collaboration with England international and reigning World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Ellie Kildunne.

Unveiled for the first time during Kildunne’s Player of the Match performance on Saturday — as England secured their place in the Rugby World Cup final — the Speed Falcon Elite is a limited-edition release created for rugby’s most electrifying players. Notably, it is the first-ever boot to be co-designed by a female player, marking a major milestone in the sport.

Available exclusively through select retail partners, the boot fuses Canterbury’s cutting-edge performance technology with Kildunne’s fearless, expressive playing style. With just 400 pairs released globally, this is a truly limited-edition drop.

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Based on Canterbury’s elite Speed Falcon silhouette, the boot has been engineered to maximise speed, agility, and precision.

Key features include:

• Even lighter construction — 24g lighter than the previous model
• New Falcon-inspired upper — Designed for rapid directional change
• Refined heel and toe box — Enhanced fit and kicking accuracy

Created for dynamic, agile players, the Kildunne boot reflects strength, flair, and creativity — delivering Canterbury’s lightest and fastest construction to date.

“Don’t blink.”

Ellie Kildunne, Canterbury ambassador and current World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, said:

“This is a really proud moment for me, and I’m really pleased with what we’ve been able to deliver with this new boot, thanks to the Canterbury team.

“Canterbury has always supported my creativity, and to have my own boot is something I’ve always dreamed of. I hope the fans like it, and we see a lot of players – both men and women – wearing the design for the upcoming season.”

Simon Rowe, SVP at Canterbury of New Zealand, added:

“We are incredibly excited to launch this world-first boot. Ellie is an absolute superstar and someone we are really proud to have as part of the Canterbury team.

“It was amazing to see Ellie wear these for the first time, and the team have been working hard to ensure that these boots are fit for the best player in the World.”

The launch comes at a pivotal time, as the 2025 Rugby World Cup final takes place this weekend— underscoring Canterbury’s ongoing commitment to innovation and building community through rugby.

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