COWBOY TIME, quite famously, is ten to ten. But for a unit within the Red Roses ranks, during their run to an inaugural WXV title, assembling ‘cowboys’ was also a signal for a more maverick, playful element to emerge. Don the Stetson…
Beginning to describe the Cowboy movement, if you can call it that, are England’s back-three stars Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach. “It just allowed people to be themselves,” starts Kildunne of the fun had on tour in New Zealand. “And basically, it’s ‘f*** the system’, do whatever you want and have fun…”
“…But still go in line with the system, obviously,” interjects Breach, with Kildunne nodding sagely. “We have to be places on time!,” the latter adds.
Of course. Even Cowboys get fines if they miss team meetings. But as the pair detail initiations on skidding scooters, Cowboy tattoos – yes, they did get them – and dancing to celebrate tries, it beams out of them that they are happy to be expressing themselves. And it’s a big subject in this new era for the Red Roses, as we power into the Women’s Six Nations in March and April.
Take what we are doing here, inside Twickenham, as a prime example of that sense of freedom. Yes, this is a Rugby World photoshoot but one with a difference. We’ve set up the lights and we’re snapping it all, but for so much of the afternoon this is Kildunne’s show. And she has a strong idea of the visuals she wants to create with a camera.
With help from stylist Katherine Pickup and a game Breach, the idea is to show a different side of an elite athlete.
Harlequins star Ellie always loved photography, spurred on by a mother whose catchphrase at photo time is “Always take two!” The speedster is a visual learner as well, so strong imagery is always helpful, as are creative shots.
At the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, she took
