![]() We can't look back and say we will wait four years for it to be bigger. "I will always be immensely proud to have been part of that. Hunter says: "What that World Cup did, and what being part of the Red Roses team has done for the women's game, is huge. The final was played in front of a record crowd of 42,579 at New Zealand's Eden Park.Įngland hope to surpass that when they play France at Twickenham in the Women's Six Nations on 29 April, with around 35,000 tickets already sold. Last year England played a starring role in the biggest women's World Cup to ever take place.Īfter leading her country to a record 30-Test winning run, before losing a third World Cup final to New Zealand following defeats in 20 too, Hunter says it still feels "really raw".īut there are "mixed emotions" because of the leap forward for women's rugby. There was disappointment when the RFU moved funding away from the 15s game towards sevens after the 2017 World Cup, but celebrations followed when the 15s team were given full-time contracts in 2019. Television appearances with names such as Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe and a trip to Downing Street followed in a "surreal" aftermath. Hunter describes it as a "penny-drop moment" - and seeing images of the team on the front pages of English newspapers the next morning "was unheard of". "It wasn't just our friends and family, it was people who had come over to watch the game." ![]() Katy and I got off the bus together with the trophy to choruses of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," she recalls. "We got there and the streets were filled. ![]() Hunter tells BBC Sport they were "just expecting a few people". The team went to a bar that had hosted family and friends throughout the tournament to celebrate. Hunter first thought the floodgates had opened for women's rugby after England beat Canada in Paris to win the 2014 World Cup. How to follow the Women's Six Nations on the BBC.Rugby Union Daily: A Sarah Hunter special.Hunter earns her record-extending 141st in her home city of Newcastle at a sold-out Kingston Park. That first cap came at Old Albanian Rugby Club in front of a few hundred people. Now, Hunter leads a professional team fully integrated into the Rugby Football Union's plans. ![]() Then, England's women had their own union and so could not wear the rose like the men's side could. Unaware of an England women's side until she was 16, Hunter made her debut five years later against Scotland in the 2007 Women's Six Nations. Switching to rugby union was the only option. Like so many others at the time, the end of mixed rugby at the age of 12 brought big changes due to a lack of girls playing. North Shields-born Hunter fell into rugby league, aged nine, purely because her primary school headteacher was forward-thinking enough to insist on sessions for both boys and girls. She made me feel like I was good enough.In the beginning, opportunities were limited. She gave me that confidence boost going into the final two weeks. She said it was hard work, but you’ve got to keep pushing on. She has shown so many little girls what was possible. To see how far her career has gone made me think I could do this one day. I’ve loved her for a long time and watched her on Idol. “The one I was so excited and terrified to meet was Carrie Underwood. “We had so many great mentors,” she said. HunterGirl also credits Idol alum and country superstar Carrie Underwood for helping her along the way. It was cool to get to this point because I didn’t think I would make it past the Nashville audition.” HunterGirl, Carrie Underwood Photo via American Idol, Instagram we were running on no sleep to get everything done. I do remember I was really nervous and scared about getting the songs right. We’re learning songs on the fly with a band, then we’re on TV. She continued, “There were moments when you are down, worried, or scared. HunterGirl, Luke Bryan Photo by American Idol, ABC I’ve looked up to him since I was a little girl,” she said of judge Luke Bryan’s unwavering support throughout the season. “Getting to have Luke there to cheer me on meant everything. The music therapist said there were times when she really doubted herself. HunterGirl, who received the first-ever Platinum Ticket in American Idol history, admitted the competition was “probably the hardest thing” she’s ever done. The Tennessee native recently sat down with TV Insider to reflect on her American Idol journey and share her plans for life after Idol. \ Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Huntergirl – American Idol Photo via Instagram After finishing American Idol Season 20 as the runner-up, HunterGirl is ready to hit the ground running with her music career.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |