England captain Sarah Hunter excited about future for women’s rugby

England captain Sarah Hunter believes women’s rugby has not even “scratched the surface” in terms of how big a sport it can become.

Hunter’s team are the global pace-setters two months out from an eagerly anticipated World Cup in New Zealand.

They top the world rankings, have won four successive Six Nations titles and are unbeaten for 23 Tests since losing to New Zealand in 2019.

Such impressive achievements help underpin England’s status as World Cup favourites as they bid to reclaim a trophy they last won eight years ago.

Hunter, a pillar of the women’s game who has won 134 caps during a 15-year international career, has been inspired by England’s stunning success at Women’s Euro 2022.

And her excitement for what the future holds is almost tangible, highlighting the Red Roses’ move to professional contracts in 2019 as a huge moment.

The Rugby Football Union, meanwhile, recently unveiled plans to invest more than £200million over a 10-year period into the domestic Premier 15s competition, with an ultimate aim of making it a fully professional league.

“I certainly think turning professional in 2019 has helped enormously,” Hunter told the PA news agency.

“It allows that freshness. We don’t have to go back to a full-time profession outside of rugby. Our sole focus is on being a rugby player and managing that.

“On your down-time you can switch off, you can recover and get the right nutrition in, which ultimately allows you to perform better when you get on the field, whether for a game or for training.

“It allows you to spend more time doing analysis, more time developing as an individual, whatever it might be.

The level has gone up, there is increased competitiveness in the game- Sarah Hunter

“Being professional allows you