Key Facts
| Squad | Lichfield |
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| Position | Scrum half |
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| Age | 23 |
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| Height | 1.65m (5'5") |
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| Weight | 61kg (9st 8lb) |
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| Caps | 12 |
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After playing on the wing, Natasha Hunt is enjoying a double switch with a move to scrum half and a geographical change by joining Lichfield last season after a year with Bristol. She added to her extensive playing experience, involving England U20, England A and England Sevens by making her initial Test appearances.
They came against the United States, South Africa and twice against Canada in the Nations Cup at Appleby College, Ontario in August 2011. In late November, she had the delight of helping England to beat the Black Ferns 10-0 at Twickenham after being used off the bench for La Toya Mason after 55 minutes. Three days later, she started the second Test that brought another rapturous triumph by 21-7 at Esher before exploiting a gap to score a try in the 8-8 draw in the final game of the series.
Natasha also crossed the Scotland line when England made a triumphant start to the RBS 6 Nations Championship at Lasswade RFC in February 2012 and celebrated her tenth cap, on her switch to full back, with deft footwork that produced the first of Michaela Staniford’s two tries against Wales at Twickenham later that month. She also started at full back in the subsequent victory over France before reverting to scrum half in the 23-6 triumph over Ireland at Esher.
A Drybrook girl, Natasha, also known as ‘Mo’, said that she was “chuffed to bits” after her England Elite squad selection and then celebrated her second match with a conversion and three penalty goals against South Africa, followed by a maiden try against Canada along the way to the final.
She said: “It’s very exciting and brilliant to be chosen, especially as I joined my new club not long ago and am really enjoying it.” Natasha was educated at Dene Magna, Hartpury College and Bath University where she took a BA course in Coach Education and Sports Development and also played for the city club from 2007-09.
Gloucester-born Natasha, who has worked as a PE assistant and rugby specialist is now involved in the Graduate Teaching Programme at King Edward’s Consortium in Birmingham and first played for Drybrook as a scrum half when 16, had a break to play netball and then appeared for Malvern in 2006-07.
Her most memorable match is the 2011 European Trophy final against Spain when England A won 5-3. She said: “We were 3-0 down for most of the game and did not really have an answer. The pressure kept mounting and we managed to sneak the victory thanks to some great forward work in the last minute of normal time.
Natasha had scored a try in the pool match in the 36-0 win over the Netherlands earlier in the tournament at Coruña and she has also played in Moscow, Canada and France. Her favourite players are former England Women’s captain Sue Day and Susie Appleby. She said: “I’ve been lucky enough to play Sevens both with and against them.
“My U20s mentor was Giselle Mather, who is now working with the London Irish Academy. I have aspirations to coach as she does. I should love to work within an elite set up, coaching up and coming players.”
Last updated: March 19, 2012
