Sadia Kabeya's Six Nations Column | France Week
Playing in front of a Twickenham crowd was just as amazing the second time round.
The whole group had been so excited about the occasion of playing at Twickenham in the week building up to the game, so to finally be on that bus travelling to the ground with fans lining the streets and cheering us on was an experience in itself.
My mum said she was there as we got off the bus and walked in. She apparently shouted my name a few times, but I didn’t hear her. The noise from the fans hits you as soon as you get off the bus and it was the same on the pitch; It’s just incredible when you’ve got nearly 50,000 people cheering in your direction.
I thought that the energy from the crowd would make me feel a bit anxious and nervous for the game, but once I got out onto the pitch for a quick walk, I felt at ease. I also had no idea that my face was going to be all over the match programmes. We all get given a match programme in the changing room, so to see five photos of me on the front cover was really cool.
GAME FACES
During the game I don’t like to look into the crowd at all. I don’t want to make eye contact with anyone, whether that’s someone I know or someone I don’t, it really throws me off! I did see my family during the anthem in the friends and family section of the stands which made me smile, but as soon as that whistle goes, I’m only focused on what’s in front of me.
I had pretty much the whole of my mum’s side of the family there supporting me. I haven’t seen them all together as a big family for a while so to be the reason they’ve all come together was a special feeling. I think my mum gave up telling me who was going to be there because more and more tickets were being bought as we got closer to game day. It was a nice surprise for me to wander over to them after the game and see all these people that I wasn’t expecting to see!
I spent quite a bit of time with them after the game, chatting in the stands still in my match kit. My uncle ended up taking on the role of my personal assistant, passing people’s match programmes and shirts forward for me to sign while I was chatting to the family. It’s such an unreal feeling to have so many people wanting my signature. It’s not something that you imagine ever happening to you and I think it’s my favourite part of a game day (apart from getting a win!). I’d happily spend an hour out there just to speak to them.
INSPIRATION
I think I was out for maybe 40 or 45 minutes after the end of the game and as I went into the changing room there were still young girls and boys waiting to speak and interact. It really makes you realise what a privilege it is to be a role model for these young people and hopefully inspire them.
When I was younger my inspiration was Briony Cleall. She was my teacher at school, and it was her who gave me the idea that playing rugby outside of school was even an option and something that I could pursue. She got her first cap while still at the school, so to have someone literally right in front of me do something that I could aspire to was incredible. I didn’t come from a rugby background, so I didn’t know many of the England players.
When I hear people say the Red Roses are an inspiration for young people, it reminds me how much of an honour it is to be part of this group. To anyone looking to get into rugby, my first piece of advice would be to find your nearest rugby club. Rugby is such an inclusive and welcoming sport that you can literally walk up to any club and join up. My second piece of advice would be to just make sure you’re enjoying it. Find your love for rugby and hold onto it, because that’s what drives you forward. Whether your goal is making your first club start, playing at county level, or even playing in an England jersey, your love for the game is what keeps you going.
