Ellie Kildunne beats Finn Russell and Louis Bielle-Biarrey to prestigious award
Ellie Kildunne has had a wonderful year in an England jersey.
England full-back Ellie Kildunne has been crowned the Rugby Union Writers’ Club personality of the year for 2025-2026 after another outstanding 12 months in the game.
Kildunne succeeds France star Louis Bielle-Biarrey as holder of the Pat Marshall Memorial Award following a successful year that peaked when helping the Red Roses lift the World Cup in September.
The 26-year-old from Yorkshire won the members’ vote by a landslide, polling ahead of Finn Russell in second place with Bielle-Biarrey and her England team-mate Zoe Stratford close behind.
Special company
She is the fourth woman to win the award after Maggie Alphonsi (2010), Emily Scarratt (2014) and Sarah Hunter (2022).
It continues a memorable 2025-26 for Kildunne, whose highlights on the field included scoring two dazzling tries in the World Cup semi-final victory over France and another electric solo effort a week later to help see off Canada in the final.
Her achievements saw her finish runner-up in BBC Sports Personality of the Year after becoming the first women’s rugby player to be shortlisted and she was even immortalised in a custom made Barbie doll.
Yesterday Kildunne scored two tries as England wrapped another Six Nations Grand Slam, their fifth successive clean sweep and eighth straight Championship title.
She finished the tournament with five tries to her name after featuring both at full-back and wing under head coach John Mitchell.
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Following greats
The prestigious RUWC personality of the year award is now in its 50th year with Wales and British and Irish Lions great Mervyn Davies the first winner in 1976.
Kildunne follows in the footsteps of previous stars to have been acclaimed by the RUWC such as Sir Gareth Edwards, Jonah Lomu, Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Dan Carter and Siya Kolisi.
She came out on top of a poll of the RUWC’s 250-plus members encompassing writers, photographers, broadcasters and digital creators.
READ MORE: England star Ellie Kildunne learns Sports Personality of the Year fate
