Key Facts
| Squad | Lichfield |
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| Position | Number 8/Flanker |
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| Age | 27 |
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| Height | 1.77m (5'10") |
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| Weight | 80kg (12st 8lb) |
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| Caps | 51 |
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Being told that she would not make the top grade as a centre was the inspiration behind Sarah Hunter switching to the back row and celebrating her 40-cap landmark with a try when captaining England to a 61-0 win over Spain in the opening FIRA-AER European Cup match at Rovereto, Italy last May.
She went on to lead them to three more victories over Italy and then France twice. She was also in charge when the Red Roses beat hosts Canada 22-10 in the 2011 Nations Cup.
A try against New Zealand in the 16-13 win at Esher last November extended her eye-catching run that continued when she captained the Red Roses to a 17-8 victory in the second match against the Black Ferns four days later. She was vice-captain in the subsequent 32-23 win over them at Twickenham.
Her other delights include sharing in the 47-0 win as vice-captain over Scotland in February 2012 and then leading the side to a 43-3 victory over Italy at Recco, near Genoa the following week. She then scored an opportunity try from a tapped penalty against Wales at Twickenham when appearing off the bench in the second half.
Sarah also made two touchdowns as England opened the 2013 Six Nations Championship with a 76-0 win over Scotland at Esher. She also played against Ireland and France and celebrated her 50th cap with a try when leading England for the fourth time in this year’s tournament against Italy at Esher. Eight days later, she was again in charge against Wales at Aberavon and scored her 13th Test try in a 20-16 victory.
She began playing rugby league aged nine at primary school and started in union five years later. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sarah attended Goathland Primary and Longbenton Community College in North Tyneside before gaining a BSc in Sport Science and Mathematics at Loughborough University. She is now a RFU University Rugby Development Officer for the South West.
Her other achievements feature winning the British Universities Championship with Loughborough, captaining Lichfield from 2005-09, the North East U18 and Northumberland U16 sides. Her international triumphs span the Six Nations five times, together with the European Championship, Nations Cup and European Trophy twice each. Personal accolades are players’ player awards at Novocastrians, Lichfield, Loughborough University and the England Academy.
Last updated: March 19, 2013
