Rugby Star Kildunne Opens Up to Help Others Heal

When England rugby star Ellie Kildunne scored a stunning solo try in front of 82,000 fans at the World Cup final, the world saw an unstoppable athlete. What they couldn't see was the hidden struggle she'd fought to get there.

The 26-year-old full-back is now speaking publicly about her battle with body dysmorphia and disordered eating during the coronavirus lockdown. Her goal is simple: help others find the courage to ask for help.

"It's time for me to speak up to give other people the courage," Kildunne told BBC Sport. For an elite athlete whose life revolves around measurable goals and constant control, lockdown isolation became dangerous territory.

Without access to her team and gym, Kildunne channeled her competitive drive inward in unhealthy ways. She ran obsessively while eating less, unable to see her shrinking frame accurately in the mirror.

The consequences hit hard when she returned to organized rugby. A stress fracture appeared in her knee from lack of muscle mass. Her limbs would shake involuntarily in the gym because she had no energy to fuel her workouts.

The turning point came during a routine physio session at her former club Wasps. Emily Ross asked a simple question: was she OK in other areas beyond the physical?

"I broke down in tears, probably because I'd been waiting for someone to say that," Kildunne recalled. Speaking the problem out loud created accountability and started her path to recovery.

At the start of 2025, Kildunne received an ADHD diagnosis, which helped explain some of her challenges with prioritizing eating and managing distraction. She now works closely with team nutritionists and has developed strategies to maintain a healthy relationship with food.

Why This Inspires

Kildunne joins other prominent women's rugby players like Sarah Bern and Ilona Maher in speaking openly about body image struggles. By sharing her story from a position of strength, she's normalizing conversations that athletes have hidden for too long.

Her willingness to be vulnerable about the ongoing nature of recovery shows others that healing isn't linear. She proves that asking for help isn't weakness but the first step toward getting stronger.

Now thriving at Harlequins and fresh off a World Cup victory, Kildunne continues managing her relationship with food consciously every day. Her openness is creating space for others to find their own courage to speak up.