England rugby star Sarah Hunter reflects on ‘crazy’ journey to earning her record 138th cap

Sarah Hunter’s England debut in 2007 came at Old Albanian Rugby Club. Only a few hundred people were in the ground. 

At the time, the country’s women’s players were not playing under the jurisdiction of the Rugby Football Union and weren’t even allowed to wear shirts with the traditional red rose on their chest. Professionalism was a pipeline dream.

The contrast with the men’s side – World Cup finalists that year – could not have been starker.

Sarah Hunter is set to become the most-capped English rugby player of all time on Sunday

‘We didn’t have the rose and had what we used to joke was a tulip or a rosebud that hadn’t quite blossomed yet,’ said Hunter. ‘It hadn’t been allowed to come out and show what women’s rugby was about.’ Both Hunter and English women’s rugby have certainly blossomed since then.

On Sunday, Hunter will become the most capped player in England rugby history when she captains her country in a World Cup quarter-final with Australia.

The clash at Auckland’s Waitakere Stadium will be Hunter’s 138th Test appearance. She has come a long way since her bow in Hertfordshire. So too has the sport she plays.‘I just wanted one cap,’ said Hunter, the leader of one of English sport’s most successful teams.

The number eight will be hoping to captain England to another World Cup semi-final this Sunday

‘It’s crazy to sit here 138 caps later – I can’t get my head around it. I think the girl who made that first cap would be very proud if she knew where the journey was going to go.’

Hunter has been there every step of the way for the remarkable development that has taken place in the women’s game in England. There are still strides to be made, but the Red Roses are leading the way in the sport globally. The majority of head coach Simon Middleton’s squad is fully professional.

England are a dominant force and have won their last 28 matches. They remain strong favourites to win what would be their third World Cup – and Hunter’s second – in New Zealand.‘

The investment in the game and it being seen on terrestrial TV has shifted things enormously. I feel pretty lucky to have experienced it,’ said Hunter.

‘I didn’t even know there was an England women’s team until I was 16. Now we’re professional. The girls now are getting their first caps at sold out places like Kingsholm and Welford Road. We have a standalone game at Twickenham next year.‘

The difference is incomparable.’It certainly is.The RFU is often a target for just criticism, but their investment in the women’s game has paid off handsomely. A World Cup win in the southern hemisphere would be the crowning glory.England are the best side in the competition and should have too much for Australia.‘Sarah sets the bar so high,’ said Middleton.‘

If we can get the rest of our players to step up to that plate, then we’re going to be pretty close to where we want to be as a group.’Hunter will surpass Rocky Clark’s England caps record after returning to Middleton’s side for the meeting with the Wallaroos. She had been rested for the final pool stage win over South Africa.

Hunter has come a long way from the person who made their debut at a regional club in 2007

In the 81 Tests she has played as England captain, Hunter has won 63, drawn one and lost 17.

‘England against Australia is always a huge occasion in any sport,’ said Middleton. ‘I used to watch the rugby league when Great Britain and England used to play Australia. I grew up on that.‘

Some of those contests were incredible and you’ve also got Test cricket. Ben Stokes and that innings he played in 2019, Ian Botham in 1981, and the men’s rugby World Cup final in 2003.‘

They’re the things that really resonate with me. The rivalry’s unbounded between the two countries. It couldn’t be a better draw for us.’

A wet forecast for Auckland should enable England to dominate Australia up front where they have a significant advantage. England’s driving maul has impressed in the tournament to date.

The England skipper has a mural painted to her in Newcastle which was commissioned by England Rugby ahead of the game against Australia on Sunday

Their record-breaking unbeaten run should go to 29. A likely semi-final with Canada and a possible final showdown with hosts New Zealand is England’s probable path in the weeks to come.

How fitting it would be for Hunter to lift the World Cup trophy at Eden Park on November 12 although there is significant work still to be done if that is to happen.

Hunter has told England they must not lose focus and be distracted by talk of her personal milestones.‘

‘Winning a World Cup quarter-final would be the biggest thing that could mark the game for me,’ Hunter said. ‘I’m immensely proud but it wouldn’t be me if I let it take away from the game.‘

We’re in knock-out rugby now and don’t get any second chances. That has to be the priority.‘Individual accolades are great but we’re here for one reason. I think I will only realise the real significance of what it means once the tournament is finished.‘

The fear of not wanting to lose drives you to be better. This team will give everything and we’ll see where that gets us.’