Bath Voice Sports News: Women’s Rugby World Cup kicks off on Friday with Bath University graduate Natasha Hunt in the England team as they take on the United States in the opening game

From the University of Bath: Bath University graduate Natasha Hunt is aiming to win a second Women’s Rugby World Cup title with England – and this time on home soil.

The 2025 tournament kicks off on Friday with the host nation taking on the United States at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, live on BBC1 (7.30pm).

Hunt will win her 83rd cap in the match, having been selected at scrum-half, and is one of four players in the Red Roses squad who helped England to World Cup glory in 2014. She also played in the 2017 final against New Zealand and this will be her third appearance on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I am so proud to be heading to my third World Cup and more importantly first home World Cup!” Hunt posted on her LinkedIn profile. “We’re hoping to inspire the nation, just like the Lionesses have done, and build on the incredible momentum that is women’s sport right now.”

Hunt studied Coach Education and Sports Development from 2007 to 2010, during which time she represented the University women’s 1st XV alongside fellow future World Cup winner Izzy Noel-Smith. She also played for England U20s and represented GB at the 2010 World University 7s Championships.

A double Olympian with Team GB in 7s, Hunt returned to the University in July 2022 when the Red Roses staged a three-week training camp at the Team Bath Sports Training Village (STV).

“I have very fond memories of being here,” she said at the time. “I’ve seen some of my old lecturers around and people who worked in the Sports Training Village while I was here so it’s been awesome to catch up with some old faces.”

The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup culminates at Twickenham on Saturday 27th September, with both semi-finals taking place at Ashton Gate Stadium in Bristol the previous week.

Defence coach for the Red Roses is Sarah Hunter, who played alongside Hunt in the 2014 and 2017 World Cup finals. She did her strength and conditioning training at the STV while living and working in Bath as University Development Officer for the South West from 2010 to 2017.

Visit teambath.com/rugby to find out more about combining rugby and studying at the University of Bath.

Fixtures can be found on the BBC at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/womens-world-cup/scores-fixtures/2025-08

As a footnote several of the team play for Bristol just up the road – so a strong West Country flavour to the Roses. Sadly no members of Bath Ladies Rugby Club have been called up – but perhaps next time.