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When the final whistle blew, relief washed over. Before a historic audience, she hugged her England teammate Lucy Packer and only then realised that the her side had claimed the Rugby World Cup. The final against Canada had been so “exhausting,” Kabeya found it hard to believe they were global titleholders until she the whistle blew. “It was amazing,” Kabeya says. “The end-of-game signal was a lot of ease, a opportunity to relax and then: ‘Wow, we’ve achieved it.’”

England’s triumph capped a three-year reign, a 33-game winning run, but the off-field impact is what Kabeya cherishes deeply. In particular, getting off the team bus to be welcomed by massive crowds and the cheers from over 81,000 spectators after the anthems.

“I can’t even explain it,” the young forward says. “The team procession was spectacular, a rare opportunity. Just to observe the enormous encouragement, the variety present – families, people who are less mature, more senior, loads of men coming to the game – it was huge. I absolutely must see recordings to experience it again because I don’t think I captured it enough because I was a bit in shock.

“You glance around and you see everyone in the stands. I think of the pointing fingers and being like: ‘See that.’ It was crazy. I quickly pulled out my phone, I was like: ‘I have to record this.’”

If Kabeya was left with lifelong memories then she also made some for the fans, with a award-winning match effort leading the Red Roses to a decisive triumph. Thousands sang her well-known slogan at the title-winning party the next day, when the “celebratory tune” was sung by her England teammate Hannah Botterman. These are all occasions she couldn't foresee could be a actuality a in her younger days.

Kabeya first started playing rugby about 15 miles south-east of Twickenham, at the Harris city academy in Croydon, south London. Initially playing alongside the boys, she was motivated by an instructor and ex-international player Bryony Cleall to pursue the sport. When she started at her initial team, away from south London, she felt she had to change parts of herself to fit in.

“It was in a different area, which is a predominantly white area,” Kabeya says. “I was just starting out and I wanted to fit into the team so culturally I changed my musical tastes, my way of talking. I no longer talk like I did when I was in my teens but I was a typical resident when I joined the club and I felt the need to adjust and suppress myself.

“It’s only as I have advanced in my career and connected with similar individuals and have encouraged my authentic personality that I am finding [my] personality. I am myself now.”

Alongside inspiring the next generation, Kabeya has developed a product which will eliminate obstacles preventing participation. Working with her sponsor, she has produced a unique rugby cap to safeguard various textures from friction, chafing and drying.

“It’s been a journey because we had to find the right material with how it can perform without causing discomfort as it has to be appropriate for the sport, where you’re sweating and facing physical demands but also keeping your hair safe.

“A scrum cap is something that has been in use for ages, it’s not a novel invention. But to incorporate this element, it is such a tiny detail but it can have significant impact. In high school I used to play with a plastic bag on my head because I aimed to maintain my hairstyle but I was passionate about rugby so it didn't deter me.

I was a true local when I joined the club and I attempted to suppress that and conceal my true identity

“However, for certain individuals that would be it. It would be: ‘I’m staying away because I don’t want to do that to my hair, I want to prevent damage.’ To have equipment that encourages participation or welcome additional athletes is important.”

The completion of the competition has been successful for the athlete. Her future games for the national team will be in the Six Nations in next season, while in the interim her focus will be on the forthcoming domestic league for her club, Loughborough Lightning. In the time before the championship, she found it rather difficult, facing physical issues and a “psychological challenge” during the previous competition: “I came in thinking: ‘Oh I’ll be alright, I’ll be able to ride it out.’

“I think the harder her personal life was, the worse it got on pitch. I was willing to take time and put in the effort and seek appropriate help to get myself in the best head space for a World Cup. I think, especially in sport, you frequently postpone action to seek solutions. But today, utilizing available help and experts I can consult regularly as opposed to reacting to issues is significant.”