Ellie Kildunne Age Height & Net Worth Inside Her Rugby Success
Ellie Kildunne is an English rugby union star best known for representing the Red Roses as an explosive full-back. Born on 8 September 1999, she is 26 years old as of 7 September 2026 and turns 27 the following day. Her official Rugby World Cup profile lists her height as 173 cm, or approximately 5 feet 8 inches. Although her net worth has not been publicly confirmed, her income is likely drawn from professional rugby contracts, international match fees, sponsorships and commercial partnerships.
Kildunne’s combination of speed, creativity and confidence has made her one of the most recognisable players in women’s rugby. She was named World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year in 2024 before helping England win the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Quick Facts
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ellie Tea Kildunne |
| Date of birth | 8 September 1999 |
| Age | 26 as of 7 September 2026 |
| Birthplace | Keighley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Height | 173 cm, approximately 5 ft 8 in |
| Main position | Full-back |
| Other positions | Wing and centre |
| International team | England Red Roses |
| Club | Harlequins Women |
| Olympic team | Great Britain Rugby Sevens |
| Major individual award | World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year 2024 |
| Major team achievement | Women’s Rugby World Cup champion in 2025 |
Who Is Ellie Kildunne?
Ellie Kildunne is a professional rugby union player whose attacking instincts have helped redefine the role of the modern full-back. She is known for receiving the ball in space, changing direction at speed and finding gaps that are not immediately visible to defenders.
Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, Kildunne developed her athletic ability through several sports during childhood. Rugby eventually became her main focus, and her performances quickly attracted attention beyond the local level.
She made her senior England debut in 2017 at only 18 years old. Rather than taking years to settle into international rugby, she immediately demonstrated the pace and finishing ability that would later become central to her reputation. England Rugby notes that she went on to start all five matches of the 2018 Women’s Six Nations.
Her early arrival on the international stage marked the beginning of a career that would include Six Nations titles, an Olympic appearance, an individual world player award and a home World Cup triumph.
How Old Is Ellie Kildunne?
Ellie Kildunne Age was born on 8 September 1999. She is therefore 26 years old as of 7 September 2026, turning 27 on 8 September.
Her age is particularly impressive when considered alongside her experience. Kildunne earned her first England cap as a teenager and had already completed more than 50 international appearances before turning 26.
That experience has allowed her to combine youthful acceleration with improved tactical understanding. She is no longer simply viewed as a promising player. She is now an established international star and one of the most important figures in England’s back line.
How Tall Is Ellie Kildunne?
Ellie Kildunne height official Women’s Rugby World Cup profile lists her at 173 cm, equivalent to approximately 5 feet 8 inches. Some older online profiles have reported slightly different measurements, but 173 cm is the figure published by the official tournament website.
Height alone does not explain her effectiveness. Kildunne’s biggest physical advantages are her acceleration, balance, agility and ability to remain strong while changing direction.
At full-back, she must handle high kicks, organise defensive positioning and make tackles in open space. In attack, her athleticism allows her to join the line as an additional runner or launch counterattacks from deep inside her own half.
Ellie Kildunne Net Worth
Ellie Kildunne net worth is not publicly disclosed. No verified financial statement or authoritative estimate establishes how much she owns, so specific figures circulated by celebrity-wealth websites should be treated cautiously.
Her likely sources of income include:
- Her professional club contract
- An England central contract
- International appearance fees and performance bonuses
- Sponsorship and endorsement agreements
- Media appearances
- Branded products and commercial collaborations
- Speaking, publishing and promotional opportunities
Reports about Red Roses compensation have suggested that leading England players can earn a basic international salary in the region of £40,000 to £50,000, with match fees, club income and bonuses potentially increasing their total annual earnings. These figures describe reported earnings structures, however, and should not be mistaken for Kildunne’s confirmed salary or net worth.
Her commercial profile has grown considerably since her 2024 World Player of the Year award and England’s 2025 World Cup victory. This greater visibility can create valuable opportunities outside match payments, but the details of her contracts remain private.
The most accurate conclusion is that Ellie Kildunne is a successful professional athlete with several potential income streams, while her personal net worth remains unknown.
Early Life and Introduction to Rugby
Kildunne grew up in Yorkshire and showed natural athletic ability from a young age. She participated in different sports, an experience that helped build the coordination and movement skills visible in her rugby today.
Her pathway was not limited to one version of the sport. She gained experience in both rugby union and rugby league environments, while also developing the versatility needed to play in multiple back-line positions.
This broad sporting education encouraged the unpredictable style that later became her trademark. Kildunne does not always follow a conventional attacking pattern. She trusts her instincts, looks for space and is willing to attempt ambitious runs when an opportunity appears.
Those qualities helped her progress into elite rugby and eventually into the England senior team.
Club Rugby Career
Kildunne’s senior club journey has included spells with Gloucester-Hartpury, Wasps and Harlequins. She joined Harlequins ahead of the 2021–22 season and developed into one of the club’s leading attacking players.
Club rugby plays an important role in maintaining her form between international competitions. It provides weekly opportunities to improve her defensive communication, kicking, decision-making and combinations with other backs.
In December 2024, Harlequins announced that Kildunne had signed a new multi-year contract. The agreement demonstrated the club’s commitment to retaining one of the most marketable and dangerous players in the women’s game.
Her performances also help attract attention to Premiership Women’s Rugby, particularly among newer supporters who first encountered her through England matches or major international tournaments.
Rise With the England Red Roses
Ellie Kildunne made her England debut against Canada in 2017. She scored during her first appearance, offering an early indication of the attacking threat she would bring to the national team.
She became a regular member of the Red Roses and contributed to several successful Six Nations campaigns. England’s dominance during this period was built on powerful forward play, disciplined defence and an increasingly adventurous back line. Kildunne became one of the players capable of turning that platform into spectacular tries.
Her international strengths include:
- Counterattacking from full-back
- Beating defenders in one-on-one situations
- Supporting line breaks
- Finishing opportunities near the try line
- Covering space behind the defensive line
- Switching between full-back, wing and centre
- Creating excitement with instinctive running
Kildunne reached her 50th England cap after making her debut at just 18. The milestone reflected both her early breakthrough and her ability to remain an important part of an exceptionally competitive national squad.
Her Outstanding 2024 Season
The 2024 season elevated Kildunne from international star to the leading individual player in women’s 15-a-side rugby.
She scored nine tries during the Women’s Six Nations, finishing as the tournament’s leading try scorer as England won another Grand Slam. Her performances combined athletic brilliance with improved consistency, demonstrating that she could influence major matches throughout an entire campaign.
England completed 2024 with 10 victories from 10 matches, winning both the Women’s Six Nations and WXV 1. Kildunne’s contribution earned her the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award in Monaco in November 2024. She was also selected at full-back in the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year.
The award confirmed what spectators had been seeing throughout the season: Kildunne had become one of rugby’s most decisive attacking players.
Ellie Kildunne at the Paris Olympics
Kildunne temporarily switched her focus from 15-a-side rugby to sevens before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. She was selected for the Great Britain women’s rugby sevens squad and made her Olympic debut in Paris.
Team GB finished seventh, which was below its medal ambitions, but the tournament added another significant achievement to Kildunne’s career. Sevens requires repeated high-speed efforts, rapid defensive decisions and the ability to exploit space with limited support.
Those demands suited her attacking game and provided experience that could be transferred back to the 15-a-side format. Representing Great Britain also expanded her profile beyond the traditional rugby union audience.
Winning the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup
The defining team achievement of Kildunne’s career arrived at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
After missing the quarter-final because of concussion protocols, she returned for the closing stages of the tournament. She scored twice in the semi-final victory over France, helping England advance to a home final against Canada.
On 27 September 2025, Kildunne scored England’s opening try in the final at Twickenham. The Red Roses won 33–13, becoming world champions in front of a record crowd of 81,885 spectators.
The victory carried additional emotional significance because Kildunne had been part of the England squad that lost the previous World Cup final to New Zealand in 2022. Three years later, she helped transform that disappointment into a historic home triumph.
What Makes Ellie Kildunne So Successful?
Kildunne’s success comes from more than raw speed. Several characteristics distinguish her from other elite backs.
Unpredictable attacking movement
She regularly changes her running angle and pace, making it difficult for defenders to anticipate her next move. She can accelerate around an opponent or step back into an unexpected gap.
Confidence under pressure
Full-backs often receive the ball while opponents are closing quickly. Kildunne remains willing to attack rather than automatically choosing the safest option.
Positional versatility
Although full-back is her primary position, she can also play on the wing or at centre. That flexibility gives coaches more selection and tactical options.
Experience in different formats
Her background across rugby union, rugby league and sevens has contributed to a broad understanding of space, support play and defensive positioning.
Strong public identity
Kildunne’s personality, creative interests and expressive try celebrations make her memorable away from the technical side of rugby. That individuality has helped her become an influential ambassador for women’s sport.
Ellie Kildunne’s Influence on Women’s Rugby
Kildunne has emerged during a period of rapid growth for women’s rugby. Larger crowds, improved professional contracts and increased television coverage have allowed leading players to build public profiles that were rarely possible for earlier generations.
Her style is particularly valuable for attracting new audiences. Spectators do not need detailed tactical knowledge to appreciate a long-range run, a sharp sidestep or a brilliantly finished try.
She also represents what a sustainable career in women’s rugby could become. Her combination of international success, club commitments and commercial projects shows how elite players can develop identities beyond the pitch.
Conclusion
Ellie Kildunne is 26 years old as of 7 September 2026, stands 173 cm tall and is one of the outstanding rugby players of her generation. Her precise net worth is not publicly known, despite unsupported estimates appearing online.
Her sporting achievements are much clearer. After making her England debut at 18, Kildunne became a multiple Six Nations winner, a Great Britain Olympian, the 2024 World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year and a 2025 Rugby World Cup champion. With her speed, creativity and fearless attacking approach, Ellie Kildunne has helped England achieve historic success while becoming one of the leading faces of modern women’s rugby.