Kildunne commits to England for 2025 World Cup bid

Full-back Ellie Kildunne says she is fresh to "fight for her shirt" and attraction connected England's bid to triumph a location Rugby World Cup successful 2025.

Kildunne was portion of nan Great Britain women's sevens broadside that vanished seventh astatine nan Paris Olympics, but is already backmost training pinch nan Red Roses arsenic nan countdown to adjacent year's tourney successful England gathers pace.

One twelvemonth retired from nan commencement of nan World Cup, external connected 22 August, nan 24-year-old has not ruled retired changing codes again, but will not contemplate immoderate imaginable move until aft nan tourney has finished.

"This is astir 15s now we're heading towards a World Cup and who knows aft that," she told BBC Sport.

"I don't want to beryllium personification that's successful and out. It's really important to beryllium portion of nan squad."

Kildunne, this year's Women’s Six Nations subordinate of nan tournament, returned to nan England campy little than 2 weeks aft nan last time of sevens successful Paris.

"As soon arsenic that past whistle went, I went backmost into nan changing room and I wanted to spell again," she said.

The Red Roses person plentifulness of rugby to play successful nan build-up to nan World Cup, pinch location warm-up games against France and New Zealand successful September earlier they recreation to Canada to take sides their WXV title.

The lucifer against reigning world champions New Zealand connected 14 September will beryllium played astatine Twickenham, erstwhile nan stadium will beryllium renamed nan Allianz Stadium.

"This could beryllium nan World Cup final" said Kildunne, who was portion of nan Red Roses broadside that mislaid nan 2022 last to New Zealand. "There's a batch of excitement going into it."

While nan Red Roses are now Kildunne's focus, she does harbour ambitions to return to sevens and perchance play astatine nan Los Angeles Olympics successful 2028.

She credits some France skipper Antoine Dupont and USA bronze medallist and societal media influencer Ilona Maher, external pinch helping toggle shape nan athletics of sevens.

"Having personalities for illustration that - having superstars successful nan crippled bringing different crowds successful - is very, very important," she said. "It brought a caller assemblage in."

Kildunne hopes nan British players are amended funded complete nan adjacent 4 years aft nan men's squad grounded to suffice for nan Paris Games, while nan women's squad only trained together for 30 days complete nan past year.

"How do we expect a squad to beryllium astatine nan apical level and triumph an Olympic medal?" she said.

"I dream much backing is put into it. I dream GB get that - if you want a successful squad you person to put successful that team."