Mo Hunt came into this season cresting perhaps the highest peak of her career. The scrum-half had added a second World Cup medal to her collection when England defeated Canada in front of a record home crowd in September, carrying that form into Premiership Women’s Rugby, where Gloucester-Hartpury are chasing a fourth consecutive title.
Gloucester secured a home semi‑final before the league paused for the Women’s Six Nations and have not lost in the competition since November 2024. But just as another trophy-filled season looked within reach, Hunt’s campaign came to a sudden halt.
Not long after coming off the bench in England’s opener against Ireland in front of a record crowd of 77,000, she pulled up injured. The knee problem ended her season.
“It is my medial collateral ligament,” the 37-year-old says. “It’s three months recovery so I will miss the end of the season.
“I don’t know if I have processed it properly yet. I have always been a person to always push boundaries so I don’t know if I have fully accepted that is the case. That is a work in progress I would say.”
Hunt says she is making slow progress in her recovery, but thoroughly enjoyed watching England as a fan. The Red Roses won their eighth consecutive Six Nations title and fifth grand slam in a row by defeating France in Bordeaux with Lucy Packer in the No 9 shirt.
“The better Luce plays, the better it makes me because we are both competitors and we are pushing each other,” she says.
“I have so much love and respect for that girl and it has always been the same. We have always helped each other through anything we have needed, and that isn’t going to change now she has the starting shirt.
“That was my role going into the tournament, I was going to be on the bench for Luce. So happy to support and see her thrive. It is almost like changing [the] guard, but I am still there pushing.”
Hunt watched the grand-slam decider against France at home alongside her Gloucester teammate and World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford.
“It was incredible, it always is when England play France. There is so much history there, such a massive rivalry, especially more so from their side than ours. Everybody gets up for playing England, everyone hates us don’t they? It was pretty cool to see.
“France away is one of my absolute favourite places to play because the crowd is so hostile and they really try to get on top of you and force errors, but the way the girls dealt with it, managed it and marshalled it later in the game was sick.”
England contended with more than just Hunt’s injury in the tournament with more than 10 players unavailable. The Red Roses managed to evolve and adapt to continue their winning streak and Gloucester can take inspiration to do the same in the PWR. Hunt is one of a few players unable to take to the pitch. Nel Metcalfe and Tatyana Heard are just back in training after injuries and Alex Matthews had shoulder surgery a few weeks ago.
Hunt believes the key to the club’s success over the past few years has been their strength in depth. “When people aren’t available there are people waiting in the wings that are ready to take an opportunity,” she says.
“I think you will see that when we go through the next few games. I would love to be out there competing with the girls, but I have no doubt the squad will go on to achieve great things. I am excited to be a fan girl for the next couple of weeks.
“I have been super lucky with injury over the last few years that I haven’t experienced it [being in the crowd at Kingsholm] too often. I have been involved in the matchday squad lots. It will be different for sure, I am not sure how I feel about it at the moment. I will probably be in The Shed with the girls, that is where we like to watch.”
Hunt is fully focused on her recovery with the next matches she could be available for coming in England’s WXV fixtures in September and October. While the PWR 2026-27 season begins in November, the scrum-half has another target in mind with the inaugural women’s British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand in 2027.
“I am really enjoying my rugby,” she says. “I am still going all right at it so why wouldn’t you try and put your hat in the ring for something like that? Some of my favourite memories playing was in the GB sevens squad.
“To be within a potential chance of going to New Zealand [is in] the back of my head. I will do everything I can this year to put myself forward.”
End-of-season exodus at Kingsholm
Gloucester are the dominant force in the PWR, but that could change next season. Several of their big names are moving on with Sisilia Tuipulotu already confirmed to be moving to Bristol Bears and Tatyana Heard signing for Sale Sharks. The co-captain Zoe Stratford and Sarah Beckett are also leaving, but iwhere they are heading is still to be confirmed.
Sale are building a talented squad with Amy Cokayne, Holly Aitchison and Morwenna Talling already in their ranks. Heard, who is originally from Yorkshire, said of the move: “I’ve always wanted to come back to the north and it definitely feels like now is the right time for me.”
Gloucester’s head coach, Dan Murphy, said the club “made every effort to retain” the trio but that “some circumstances extend beyond rugby”. They have locked down several of their players with new contracts though with Alex Matthews, Maud Muir and Emma Sing among those remaining at the club. Murphy said: “We’ve already turned our attention to strengthening the squad, with recruitment plans well under way, and we’re looking forward to sharing some exciting additions with supporters over the coming weeks.”
Memory lane
23 September 1989 Saracens’ first women’s team was an invitation side co-founded by the England scrum-half Emma Mitchell and the Wales No 10 Amanda Bennett that faced a Northern Select XV, including Gill Burns. When players initially approached the club to set up a team an official had binned their application letter. After a conversation with a member of Saracens committee, John Heggerdon, the team was created, but with some stipulations. The women’s players had to work in the burger vans on men’s matchdays, run the club shop and waitress at vice presidents’ lunches. An inauspicious start to a journey that has brought 15 league titles in the past 35 years.
Still want more?
England showed strength in depth to go unbeaten in yet another triumphant Women’s Six Nations campaign, writes Sarah Rendell.
Scott Hastings obituary – Ian Malin looks back on the career of one of Scotland’s great players, who has died aged 61.
England’s men are ikely to have a new on-field leader this summer as Borthwick reveals his rotation plans, writes Robert Kitson.
… by writing to Sarah Rendell.
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