women’s rugby
international-women
Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt has already achieved an extraordinary amount during her distinguished playing career.
At 37 years old, she has collected 89 caps for England, won several Guinness Women’s Six Nations championships, participated in both the Rio 2016 and delayed Tokyo Olympics as a two-time Olympian, and played a crucial role in Gloucester Hartpury’s incredible run of three consecutive Premiership Women’s Rugby titles from 2022 to 2025.
These accomplishments represent just a fraction of the highly respected Red Roses scrum-half’s outstanding journey. Currently, Hunt is focusing on a fresh milestone: making history as part of the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s squad traveling to New Zealand in 2027.
She is scheduled to make her highly anticipated comeback from injury, donning the number nine shirt to face Australia in the initial round of the WXV Global Series. This match against the Wallaroos will mark her return to the international stage since tearing her knee ligaments in the opening round of England’s Grand Slam-winning Guinness Women’s Six Nations tournament against Ireland earlier this season.
With the possibility of selection for the Lions drawing closer, Hunt acknowledges that this monumental event is already on the minds of athletes throughout all four participating home nations.
“Being part of [the Lions tour] would be absolutely incredible,” Hunt remarked.
“I believe any player on the verge of representing their national team in these four countries has this on their mind, and anyone claiming otherwise isn’t being honest!
“I was lucky enough to be selected for the Team GB Sevens squad on two occasions. That period stood out as some of my most cherished and fun times in rugby—merging different sporting cultures, aligning on a single objective, and uniting rapidly to accomplish something extraordinary,” reflected the Olympian, who competed in the 2016 and 2021 Games.”
Her appearances for Team GB at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021 Olympics could provide crucial experience if she secures a spot in this pioneering multi-nation team.
The landmark five-match tour is scheduled to begin on September 4, 2027, starting with a preparation game against a Black Ferns XV. The tour will then progress through Auckland, Hamilton, and Wellington, culminating in a final Test match against the Black Ferns on September 25 at Christchurch’s newly built One New Zealand Stadium.
Jo Yapp, announced as the inaugural head coach for the British & Irish Lions Women’s side in May, will likely announce her traveling squad in May 2027, following the wrap-up of the upcoming Women’s Six Nations tournament.
To book her ticket to New Zealand, Hunt must first focus on returning to top form on the pitch.
The halfback has trained intensively alongside the strength and conditioning staff at Gloucester Hartpury to prepare for the WXV Global Series, and she is eager to wear the England jersey once more.
After Saturday’s match against Australia, the Red Roses are set to play Canada and New Zealand on back-to-back weekends. In October, they will travel across the Atlantic to take on the United States, followed by a two-match series against Canada.
While it is a grueling lineup of games, Hunt views every moment on the field as a chance to state her case for selection.
Even as she centers her efforts on a triumphant international comeback, an even greater reward remains in sight.
Earning a place in the inaugural British & Irish Lions Women’s team would write another magnificent page in Hunt’s stellar career. Should she travel to New Zealand in 2027, the experienced scrum-half will once again be positioned at the center of a historic milestone for the sport.
