England full-back Ellie Kildunne admits feeling 'really alone' after the euphoria of winning the Women's Rugby World Cup faded. The tournament's final against Canada saw her score a standout solo try in front of a packed 82,000-strong crowd at Allianz Stadium. Just weeks later, returning to club action for Harlequins, she faced a stark contrast playing before a mere 2,929 fans at Twickenham Stoop. 'You are playing in front of a sold-out crowd... the next minute you are back playing over the road in front of a slither of the amount of people,' Kildunne told BBC Sport.

This abrupt shift triggered an emotional dip, prompting introspection about her motivation and the intense pressure she places on herself. 'My expectation gets higher of myself all the time. If I played 8/10 then I feel I might as well have played 2/10,' she explained, revealing the challenge of maintaining drive without the World Cup spotlight.