Two-time World Cup winner targets 'unbelievable' career first

Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt has packed plenty into an illustrious career already.

The 37-year-old has earned 89 England caps to date, lifted multiple Guinness Women’s Six Nations titles, become a two-time Olympian by competing at the 2016 Rio Olympics and delayed Tokyo Olympics, and played big part in her club Gloucester Hartpury’s remarkable Premiership Women’s Rugby ‘three-peat’ success between 2022-2025.

Those achievements only scratch the surface of the renowned Red Roses scrum-half’s decorated career. Now, however, Hunt has her sights set on a new challenge – becoming part of history with the inaugural British & Irish Lions Women’s tour to New Zealand in 2027.

Hunt is set to make her long-awaited return from injury by wearing the number nine jersey against Australia in the opening fixture of the WXV Global Series, with the clash against the Wallaroos providing her first taste of international rugby since suffering knee ligament damage against Ireland in the opener of England’s Grand-Slam winning Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year.

And with the prospect of a Lions call-up firmly on the horizon, Hunt admits the opportunity is one that is already occupying the thoughts of players across the four nations.

“It would be unbelievable to be involved in [the Lions tour],” Hunt explained.

“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!

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have played in Team GB Sevens set-ups twice over. 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,” said the Olympian who was involved in the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 games.”

Hunt represented Team GB at both the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Olympics, experiences which could prove invaluable should she earn a place on another groundbreaking multi-nation squad.

The historic five-fixture tour kicks off on 4 September 2027, with a warm-up fixture against a Black Ferns XV, before moving through Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington, and concluding with the final Test against the Black Ferns on 25 September at the new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch.

Jo Yapp, who was appointed as the head coach of the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s Team in May of this year, is expected to name her squad in May 2027, after the conclusion of next year’s Women’s Six Nations.

For Hunt, the road to New Zealand starts with getting back to what she does best.

The scrum-half has worked hard with Gloucester Hartpury’s strength and condition team to prepare for the WXV Global Series and is raring to go in the Red Roses jersey once again.

Following Saturday’s fixture against the Wallaroos, England will face Canada and New Zealand on successive weekends, before heading across the Atlantic in October for a meeting with the USA and a two-Test series against Canada.

It is a demanding schedule, but for Hunt, every minute on the pitch represents another opportunity to put herself in the frame.

Because while her focus is firmly on making a successful return to international rugby, there is a bigger prize waiting on the horizon.

The chance to be selected for the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s squad would add another extraordinary chapter to Hunt’s already decorated career – and if she can make it to New Zealand in 2027, the veteran scrum-half could find herself at the heart of yet another historic moment in rugby history.