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Red Roses full-back Ellie Kildunne was runner-up to golfer Rory McIlroy at the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.
The 26-year-old was shortlisted for the award after she played an integral part in England’s win at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
In front of a world record crowd of 81,885 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, Kildunne scored a try as England beat Canada 33-13 to become world champions for a third time.
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Formula 1 driver Lando Norris finished third in the public vote, while Lionesses duo Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton, as well as darts player Luke Littler were all shortlisted.
Kildunne would have been the first women’s rugby player to ever win the award and the first English rugby player since Jonny Wilkinson in 2003.
Ahead of the ceremony,England and Arsenal striker Kelly saw the representation of female athletes as a sign that the prominence of women’s sports is here to stay.
“I’ll be buzzing for every winner, any winner, because the representation of sports at the minute is incredible,” Kelly said. “And there’s such high levels.
“I think it shows where women’s sport is right now, with Ellie Kildunne also being nominated. I think it shows women’s sport is on the up and women’s sport is here to stay. We’re going nowhere.
“But it also shows the importance of celebrating each other, celebrating Hannah being nominated and celebrating Ellie Kildunne being nominated, because actually, we’ve come so far as sportswomen, and I think that’s a lot to celebrate, because we’re here to stay in all sports.”
Both the Red Roses and Lionesses were pipped to the BBC Sports Personality Team of the Year award by Team Europe after their Ryder Cup success.
Led by Luke Donald the side picked up a first win on American soil since 2012 with their 15-13 victory at Bethpage Black in New York.
Sarina Wiegman was named Coach of the Year after she guided England’s Lionnesses to successive European Championship titles, Swedish pole vaulter Armand DuPlantis was named World Sport Star of the Year, former Arsenal and France footballer Thierry Henry was given a Lifetime Achievement award, England striker Michelle Agyemang was named Young Sports Personality of the Year, and Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe received the Helen Rollason award.
