Women in Sport is delighted to announce that Sadia Kabeya MBE, England rugby international and Player of the Match in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Final, has joined the charity as an official Women in Sport Ambassador.
Sadia’s appointment comes at a crucial moment for women’s sport. Despite growing visibility and success at the elite level, there remains a stubborn 24% participation gap in team sport between girls and boys. That means there are 930,000 fewer girls playing team sport than boys – missing out on the skills, joy and belonging it can provide, simply because they were born female.
For more than four decades Women in Sport has challenged the deep-rooted barriers that too often make sport unwelcoming, unsafe or inaccessible for women and girls, and that work is far from done. The charity is focused on changing the culture, systems and environments around sport, so girls are not the ones expected to adapt, tolerate or simply ‘push through’.
Sadia’s sporting journey began in London as gymnast before her PE teacher – former England international Bryony Cleall – introduced her to rugby. She has since risen through the ranks to become one of the most dynamic back-row players in the women’s game.
A standout figure for the Red Roses and Loughborough Lightning, Sadia is recognised not only for her explosive performances on the pitch but also for her passion for inspiring the next generation of girls in sport.
Sport has given me a career, a community and a sense of belonging. But my journey wasn’t easy.
Sadia Kabeya MBE
Sadia Kabeya MBE, who recently featured in Women in Sport’s Big Give Appeal said:
“Sport has given me a career, a community and a sense of belonging. But my journey wasn’t easy – there were moments when I questioned whether I truly fit in, whether the space was built for someone like me.
Too often, the message is that girls need to be tougher, more confident, or more determined, when actually the systems need to change. Girls deserve spaces where they feel welcome, respected and free to be themselves, without having to fight or prove that they belong. I’m proud to stand with Women in Sport to help make that happen.”
Women in Sport CEO, Stephanie Hilborne OBE, said:
“The Red Roses didn’t just make the nation proud last year when they won the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in front of nearly 82,000 people, they smashed stereotypes around what it means to be a woman. Sadia and her teammates showed incredible strength, fearlessness, resilience, grit and teamwork and we are really proud to have Sadia join Women in Sport at this moment.
As an ambassador Sadia will be helping our charity challenge the lack of team sport opportunities for girls. 24% fewer girls than boys play teamsport and this is not inevitable; it’s the result of a society that has stereotyped girls and women and failed to celebrate their achievements in the past. Visibility alone won’t close the gap but it will help and Sadia is an exceptional athlete who is using her platform with purpose. Together we will keep pushing for more girls-only opportunities, for environments built on belonging and for a sporting culture that works for all girls and women.”
Sadia joins a distinguished group of Women in Sport ambassadors and supporters including President Tessa Sanderson CBE, Vice President Jim Carter OBE, Patron Rebecca Adlington OBE, Trustee Brian Moore and long-term advocate Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE.
