Kildunne to miss game after getting stuck in Dubai
Kildunne was part of England's Rugby World Cup-winning squad last summer
- Published
Red Roses stars Ellie Kildunne and Sadia Kabeya will miss this weekend's Premiership Women's Rugby fixtures after getting stranded in Dubai.
The England pair travelled together to the United Arab Emirates last week - before the conflict in the Middle East escalated last weekend - and have been unable to return to the UK due to travel disruption.
It means full-back Kildunne, 26, will miss Harlequins' home fixture to Saracens on Saturday while flanker Kabeya will miss Loughborough Lightning's trip to Sale Sharks.
"Both players have registered their presence with the UK government to receive official updates and guidance," a joint statement from the RFU, Harlequins and Loughborough Lightning read.
It added: "Both Ellie and Sadia are in contact with the RFU, PWR and their clubs and continue to be supported throughout this period. They will return to England as soon as it is possible to do so."
Airspace over the Middle East remains restricted, with flights completely or partially grounded over Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel.
More than 140,000 Britons in the region have registered their presence with the UK's Foreign Office, after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region.
Dubai has seen several direct strikes from Iran since Saturday, with damage reported at Dubai International Airport and several luxury hotels.
Kildunne, the 2024 world player of the year, starred in England's World Cup-winning campaign in 2025 as the Red Roses lifted the title for a third time.
Kabeya, 24, was named player of the match in the final victory against Canada.
