Sarah Hunter key to Red Roses World Cup bid according to former teammate Maggie Alphonsi

By Ben Hart, Sportsbeat Sarah Hunter will be integral to England's Rugby World Cup victory bid both on and off the pitch, according to Red Roses legend Maggie Alphonsi. Ad The North Shields star only needs to play two matches in New Zealand to become England's most capped player of all time.

RugbyMarlie Packer could be crowned world's best player according to Red Roses legend Maggie Alphonsi3 MINUTES AGO She is currently two short of prop Rocky Clark, who starred alongside Hunter when the Red Roses last tasted World Cup glory in 2014. Hunter is expected to lead England out when they kick off their campaign against Fiji on Saturday and Alphonsi underlined her importance to Simon Middleton's exuberant young team.

«The team is a blend of younger and experienced players but for most of them in that England team, this will be their first Rugby World Cup,» said Alphonsi. «So, to have the likes of Sarah Hunter bringing her experience to the team, it's significant because the players who haven't been there can just lean on her a little bit.

»She could potentially go on to be the most capped player in the England men's or women's team. If she achieves that accolade, it will be sensational." Hunter's England are red-hot favourites going into the delayed tournament down under — having won a world-record 25 straight Tests.

Hunter has been a mainstay of that run and Alphonsi is full of admiration for the 37-year-old, who she believes has only improved with time. «I remember her playing in my team back in 2010 and being in the back row with us,» explained Alphonsi, who was meeting with women and girls who play for National Lottery-supported Haringey Rhinos RFC, to see for herself how National Lottery funding is having a positive