Hunt Excited for Test Revival and Black Ferns Showdown

Women's Test: England vs. New Zealand

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

Date: Saturday, 14 September

Kick-off: 14:30 BST

England scrum-half Natasha Hunt is eagerly anticipating her return to international rugby as she prepares to face New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Natasha Hunt excitedly returns to the spotlight as England face New Zealand in a historic Test match at Allianz Stadium. The 35-year-old scrum-half, now vice-captain, reflects on her career revival and the evolution of women's rugby

At 35, Hunt, who was notably absent from England's Rugby World Cup squad in 2022, has been a consistent presence in the squad since John Mitchell took over as coach in autumn 2023. "There were moments when I wasn't sure if I was finished," Hunt shared with 5 Live Rugby Union Weekly. "But I genuinely feel like I'm playing some of my best rugby ever and I'm absolutely loving it."

Hunt credits modern recovery techniques, physiotherapy, and nutrition for extending her career, citing the examples of former England captain Sarah Hunter, who retired at 37, and Mike Brown, who remains active with Leicester at 39. "Being a professional athlete is fleeting," Hunt noted. "Once you step away, there's no going back. You have to be certain when it's time to retire, and I haven't reached that point yet."

This autumn marks a new milestone for Hunt, as she has been named vice-captain for the first time in her career. With over 70 caps for England, Hunt is embracing her new leadership role. "I've never been viewed as a leadership figure before, and previous coaches didn't see me in that light," she said. "It's an honor, but my approach remains the same—I focus on bringing out the best in everyone."

Hunt, along with Marlie Packer and Emily Scarratt, are the only players from the current Red Roses squad who played against New Zealand during their last visit to Twickenham in December 2012. England's match followed a historic victory by the men's team over the All Blacks earlier that day, with the women’s game included in the same ticket.

Reflecting on that experience, Hunt recalled, "Our warm-up was incredibly brief. We did a quick session in the gym and ran through just two plays. The atmosphere was so electrifying that we didn't need much warming up."

Hunt is excited about the evolution of women's rugby, noting the significant shift in support. "What’s incredible now is that the fans are coming specifically to see us. They're here for the Red Roses, and that’s the biggest change in my career."

In 2023, the Red Roses set a world record for attendance at a women’s Test match at Twickenham, with 58,498 spectators witnessing their Six Nations Grand Slam victory over France. For Saturday's standalone fixture, over 40,000 fans are expected to be in attendance.