Filming Day Two – Twickenham!

This was the biggest interview I have done in my degree so far. It was such an incredible day for my both professionally and personally and I will never forget it.

Having been on the premiership women’s rugby media mailing list I got an email asking if I wanted to come and interview Ellie Kildunne at Twickenham Stadium following her World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award.

Having already been in contact with Ellie this seemed like the perfect opportunity to speak to her in person so obviously – even though very nerve-wracking I signed up.

Come that Friday I set off to Twickenham stadium with all of my filming kit and cameras and heading to the gate. Here I picked up my media pass for the day and was led to pitch side for the interviews. There were around 12 other journalists there they were from big papers such as BBC London, The Guardian, The Times. There were also some freelance photographers as well as an RFU photographer. I felt very small as I was much younger than everyone else and there as a student, but it was such a brilliant opportunity.

Ellie did a walk out of the tunnel in her Harlequins kit, and I got to take some good shots of her for my article. She then did various interviews pitch-side until I was the last interview to go. At this point I was asked if I would mind doing the interview inside in the England changing rooms (!!). Of course I said I didn’t mind and quickly re-set up in the changing rooms and took some pictures of the changing rooms too while I was waiting.

I then got to interview Ellie on everything from her award to her beginnings in rugby to her time with the Red Roses.

She was so genuinely lovely and being a fan as well as a journalist it was so so incredible.

After the interview I took some more photos of the outside of the stadium (making sure to stay on public paths for these photos as I wasn’t entirely sure if I had permissions for photos outside of the stadium as well as inside).

I then did some further research at the World Rugby Museum which is in the same building. There wasn’t much on Women’s rugby, but it was still interesting. I ended the day by buying a new rugby ball from the England merchandise shop!