England scrum-half Natasha Hunt says the inaugural British and Irish Lions women’s tour to New Zealand – the first Test of which is exactly a year away – is a massive motivation as she prepares to make her comeback from injury.
The 37-year-old sustained knee ligament damage during England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in April.
She was sidelined for the rest of the Red Roses’ Grand-Slam winning campaign and Gloucester-Hartpury’s run to the PWR semi-finals, but starts at nine in England’s WXV Global Series opener against Australia in Salford on Saturday.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have played in Team GB Sevens set-ups twice over,” said Hunt, a veteran of the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
“That was some of my favourite, most enjoyable rugby, just mixing cultures, everyone having a common goal and coming together really quickly to try to get something special done.
“It would be unbelievable to be involved in [the Lions tour].
“I think every player that is close to playing for their country in those four nations is thinking about it. And if they say they’re not, they’re lying!”
The landmark five-fixture tour begins on 4 September with a warm-up fixture against a Black Ferns XV, before the first of three Tests against New Zealand seven days later.
Coach Jo Yapp is expected to name her squad in May 2027, after the conclusion of next year’s Women’s Six Nations.
Hunt spent much of the past summer working with Gloucester’s strength and conditioning team to rehabilitate her knee and, after seeing Lucy Packer impress in her absence, has got the nod to start against the Wallaroos.
Hunt forms a half-back partnership with Holly Aitchison. The pair first played together almost a decade ago, when Aitchison was a fast-rising teenage prospect at Litchfield Ladies.
“We played one game together – I was nine, she was 10 against Worcester and we really enjoyed it,” remembers Hunt.
“She’s just such an exciting rugby player. Her ability to play at the line is pretty unmatched in the game.
“The way that she can take a ball at such pace, challenge that line and then fizz a pass 20 metres… I don’t think there’s many people in the game that can do that.”
After taking on Australia, who they beat 47-7 en route to winning the World Cup last year, England face Canada and New Zealand on the following two weekends.
The second half of the WXV Global Series takes the Red Roses across the Atlantic in October for a match against the USA and a two-Test series against Canada.
