Nulo partner Ellie Kildunne is one of the most decorated women’s rugby players of her generation. A fullback for Harlequins Women and England's Red Roses, she was named World Rugby Women's 15s Player of the Year in 2024 and voted runner-up for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 2025. A multiple Six Nations Champion, Ellie claimed the pinnacle of her sport in September 2025, scoring the opening try in England's Rugby World Cup final victory over Canada at Twickenham.
Off the pitch, Ellie's most loyal teammate has four paws and an easy-going reputation that precedes him. Otis, her four-year-old Cockalier, came into her life after the Rugby World Cup and has been her constant companion ever since. Equal parts chill and energetic, Otis has a way of grounding Ellie through the highs and lows of elite sport. He’s a daily reminder that no matter what happens on the pitch, there's always a walk to look forward to and a dog who's just happy you're home. Ellie sat down with our team to share what Otis means to her life as a professional athlete, and why she trusts Nulo to fuel him.
Tell us about Otis’ breed, age, and what he's like.
Otis is a Cockalier, which is a cross between a cocker spaniel and a Cavalier King Charles. He's four years old. I got him after the last World Cup, and he's the biggest blessing of my life outside of rugby. He's super, super chill, but when there's a tennis ball out, or it comes to his walks and runs in the fields, he absolutely loves it. He's the perfect mix.
What does Otis mean to you as a teammate and companion?
My life revolves around team, but I think it's underestimated how much Otis is a teammate to me as well. I train on the pitch with everyone around me, but coming home to cuddles and company from Otis makes him sometimes more important than the team on the pitch — because I've always got that. He keeps me company, gives me someone to talk to, and the love is always unconditional. No matter if I've just popped downstairs or been gone for the whole day, he gives me the same amount of love.
How has having Otis given you purpose and routine outside the sport?
Having Otis has given me a massive sense of purpose outside of rugby. Whether that's getting out of the house a couple of times a day for a walk, or having time away from the rugby field and away from my phone. Just fresh air, a clear mindset, and it being only him and me. It gives me routine and structure in my life outside the sport. I don't think people understand how important that is. He doesn't know how much he brings to my life other than love, but it's way more than that. It keeps me ticking. I can't imagine life without him.
How has Otis supported your mental health as a professional athlete?
Mental health is a huge topic that is being discussed more now than ever, especially in sport. As a top athlete, you go through really high pressures, the lows of injury, successes, and losses. There's no straight line upwards; it's always a roller coaster. So, you need something consistent you can always come back to, a grounding point. Otis is definitely that for me. The consistent thing is that I've got to be there for him, and he's there for me. It brings me back to zero — almost a reset — ready to start the next day with a fresh mind.
As an athlete, how do you think about nutrition?
Nutrition for me has always been a bit of a bumpy road — understanding the importance of it, and getting it right. There have been times I've got it wrong and felt the aftermath, whether that's through injury or low energy. Over the years, I've put a lot of time into understanding what nutrition means for me. I love my food, I love cooking for people, I love going out to restaurants, but there are times when food just has to be fuel. I wouldn't be able to lift the weights and run on the pitch like I do if I hadn't figured out what works for me, and now I feel the importance of it every day.
Why did you choose Nulo for Otis?
I obviously know how important nutrition is for me, and I felt like I'd be a very bad dog mum if I didn't apply that same thinking to Otis. I love that little boy to bits. So I started putting a bit more research into pet food brands and what I can genuinely do for him. Obviously, I can take him on longer walks, but what can I do that's really very simple, inside the house? And it's food. It's the same as an athlete. Once I did that research, I came across Nulo and saw everything they were putting into their pet food — and I saw some of the athletes they already work with. To see Olympians choosing this brand, I felt like it really fit with me. I knew I'd found the right choice.
What is it about Nulo's values that resonated with you specifically?
People often say getting a dog is like having a child, but I'm not ready for children. What I'm ready for, and what I know how to do, is being part of a team. So to partner with a brand whose ethos is that your pet is your teammate — that really stood out to me. It's a different way of thinking that very much aligns with how I already see the world.
