England rugby stars Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya will miss Premiership Women's Rugby matches after becoming stranded in Dubai during the league's reserve week. The players took a short break but remain unable to return due to ongoing Middle East airspace restrictions following escalating regional tensions.

Both athletes are in contact with the RFU, PWR, and their clubs while receiving support during this period. Airspace over multiple Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE, and Israel remains severely restricted. More than 140,000 Britons in the region have registered with the UK's Foreign Office after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory actions across the region.

Kildunne, the 2024 world player of the year, played a starring role in England's World Cup-winning campaign in 2025 as the Red Roses secured their third title. Kabeya, 24, earned player of the match honors in the final victory against Canada. The players will return to England as soon as travel becomes possible.