ENGLAND full-back Ellie Kildunne was voted the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year on Monday, a day after scoring two tries in the 43-28 win over France to seal the Grand Slam.
Kildunne, w, wins the prestigious be-award 50 years after Wales and Lions great Mervyn Davies was the first recipient in 1976.
It is the latest triumph in her remarkable season having scored two spectacular tries in the World Cup semi-final victory over France and another as England beat Canada in the final last September. She also finished runner-up to golfer Rory McIlroy in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year after becoming the first women’s rugby player to be shortlisted.
The 26-year-old won the members’ vote for the Pat Marshall Memorial Award by a landslide. In the poll of the RUWC’s 250-plus members, she finished ahead of Finn Russell in second place with last year’s winner, French wing Louis Bielle-Biarrey, and her England teammate Zoe Stratford close behind.
She is the fourth England women‘s player to win the award after Maggie Alphonsi (2010), Emily Scarratt (2014) and Sarah Hunter (2022).
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