“It was such a shock for me and it still is. I still don't understand it to this day. I actually didn't sleep that night because I didn't want to wake up and it be something I had to deal with again.”

Mo Hunt discussing her surprise exclusion from the Rugby World Cup squad in 2023

Ahead of this weekend’s start of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations, I’m thrilled to say that my guest today is Mo Hunt, a much-celebrated international rugby player who's represented her country for over 13 years. 

Mo was part of the England team that won the World Cup in 2014, won numerous Six Nations Championships and, as a Sevens player, has represented Team GB at the Olympics in 2016 and 2021 and England at the Commonwealth Games.

Mo is captain of Gloucester Hartpury, the PWR club that won the Premiership title in 2023 the same year that Mo helped England lift the inaugural WXV Trophy in New Zealand.

Mo’s now back in the England programme with a full-time contract as the team works towards a home World Cup in 2025.

It was fabulous to talk at length with Mo – one of the most popular players in today’s Red Roses squad.

We explore her route into rugby (spoiler alert: she was a high-level netballer) and her rapid progress into national representation and winning a World Cup.

Mo shares her experience of the journey from playing for England as an amateur to today’s fully professional era, the challenge of switching between playing 15s and rugby 7s for England and Team GB and the importance of female coaches in the game.

Mo is incredibly open about how she, and her family, were affected by her surprising exclusion from the Rugby World Cup squad in 2023 and how that decision has gone on to impact her life and her playing career today.

It’s such an exciting time for the game and players like Mo, as she reflects:
“I don't feel like I've ever really achieved my true ability in an England shirt, which is why I'm so excited by this new campaign and new coaches coming in…”

Get your tickets to watch Mo and the Red Roses play in this year’s Women’s Six Nations here: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/rfu/Events?preFilter=23

Thank you to Sport England who support The Game Changers Podcast with a National Lottery award.

Find out more about The Game Changers podcast here: https://www.fearlesswomen.co.uk/thegamechangers

Hosted by Sue Anstiss
Produced by Sam Walker, What Goes On Media

A Fearless Women production