Mo Hunt on World Cup Win, PWR and Emily Scarratt

Natasha “Mo” Hunt stands as one of the biggest names in women’s rugby. Known for her impressive passing ability, leadership, and infectious energy, Mo has become far more than a world-class scrum half; she’s a driving force for the development of the women’s game.

In September, she made history with the Red Roses after winning the 2025 Women’s World Cup in front of a sold-out Allianz Stadium of 81,885 spectators.

“It’s been pretty surreal,” she says. “A lot of us feel like our feet haven’t really touched the ground yet! But I absolutely adore playing with these girls and I feel very lucky to be surrounded by them every day.”

With this year’s World Cup Win adding to her accolades, Hunt has an impressive trophy cabinet of nine Six Nations, two WXV and two World Cups, alongside three domestic league titles. She has been a key figure within women’s rugby for over a decade, seeing it through many transitional periods.

“The crowds and engagement have blown us away. The energy they gave us during the world cup was pretty surreal, and pretty special.”

Speaking on her most memorable crowd moment:

“I always hug my mum and dad when I get off the team bus, my mum always manages to get them to the front, so I can find them. But, when I got off the bus at Allianz Stadium for the final, I completely missed them,” she explains. “They were front row, but my eyes were everywhere, looking at all the stands and everyone there. It was incredible!

“Then after the final whistle, the sheer number of people that stayed to watch us lift the trophy was crazy. I’ve never seen Allianz Stadium like that.”

One of the goals for the 2025 Women’s World Cup being hosted in England was to increase the accessibility of rugby for women and girls throughout the country.

“The more people that play, the more competition you have,” she explains. “That will better the competition and the players that come out of it.”

People throughout the world saw the Red Roses win rugby’s biggest accolade, attracting a peak audience of 5.8m viewers and making it the most-watched women’s rugby union match ever shown on TV.

“I met somebody a couple of weeks ago who told me that her son’s favourite player in Hannah Botterman, he’s not interested in men’s rugby,” Hunt recalls. “That’s the legacy we want to leave.

“We want to show up and let young girls see that they can grow up to be full-time rugby players, footballers, netballers; whatever they want to be. That was never an option when I was younger, so we’re proud to be leading the way with that.

“It’s all about our Red Roses tagline, ‘for the girls’. It’s about bringing through the next talent, whilst respecting the girls that have come before.”

During the domestic season Mo plays for Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) side, Gloucester Hartpury. After an impressive 34-19 win over Saracens in the 2024/25 PWR Final, Mo and the team became three-peat champions!

“The innate belief we’ve got in each other is what makes us so special,” Mo says. “We have open and honest conversations, and everybody owns stuff.

“If Zoe (Stratford) or I make mistakes, we put our hands up and make it right, which is so important for the players to see. We’re a family.”

PWR has returned for its inaugural 2025/26 season, with a number of key international signings following the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

“The growth and investment that the PWR gets is crucial for us. We have so many outstanding internationals in our domestic league, which is making us and other nations better. It’s the best place to be.”

Dan Muphy, Gloucester Hartpury head coach adds to why Mo is such a key player:

“Her individual drive sets her aside. She always wants to do more and set the tone and standard with everything we do,” he explains. “Her understanding of the game makes her such a special player; she respects the players around her, and says ‘I can do this for you, if you can do this for me.’”

Mo’s role of scrumhalf is often described as the ‘drum beat’ of the team, connecting the forwards and backs. Reflecting the key qualities to make a key number 9, she says:

“The one thing I always say to young scrum halves is just to get there early. The harder and earlier you can work, the easier decision making becomes.

It’s also key to work on your skills. I pride myself on my passing ability, getting the ball out in front and picking the right pass. I try to bring out the best in everyone around me – it’s not about me doing it, but my teammates feeling the best they can, and knowing I’ve got their backs.”

Mo works alongside England teammate, Zoe Stratford (formerly Aldcroft), as Gloucester Hartpury co-captains. Speaking on their leadership style, Mo adds:

“Our leadership style is about empowering everyone around us to be the best they can be. We pride ourselves with that positive reinforcement, no-ones out there to make a mistake.”

During her off time, Mo can be found recording her podcast, The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby. The show is hosted by Emily Scarratt (Scaz), Mo Hunt, and Elma Smit, aiming to change the way girls see their space in the world.

Scaz recently announced her retirement from professional rugby after 17 years in the game. She made 119 caps for the Red Roses, in which she scored 754 points (a Roses all-time record) and was named World Player of the Year in 2019.

“Scaz is the greatest Red Rose of all-time. The way she conducts herself, her values, and morals, and how grounded she is. Whether she’s on or off the pitch, everyone adores her, and there’s a reason for that,” Mo says.

“There will never be someone like her again, she’s just one of the best humans in the world. The rugby world will miss her, but now the rest of the world will get to see another side of Emily Scarratt, which is the one I’ve absolutely adored and loved for years.”

Mo will be back in action this weekend as Gloucester Hartpury take on Bristol Bears on Sunday 30th November at Ashton Gate Stadium.

Buy your tickets here!