Natasha Hunt and England ready for ‘most competitive’ Women’s Six Nations
England scrum-half Natasha Hunt believes this season’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations could be the most competitive in its 22-year history.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday when France host Ireland in Le Mans and Wales tackle Scotland at Cardiff Arms Park.
England, winners of 14 Six Nations titles and 12 Grand Slams since the tournament began in 2002, launch their campaign against Italy in Parma on Sunday.
The Red Roses’ two home fixtures against Wales and Ireland will be played at Ashton Gate and Twickenham respectively.
Wales’ appointment with Italy on April 27, meanwhile, is their first stand-alone women’s Test at the Principality Stadium, with a possible title decider taking place later that day between France and England in Bordeaux.
England are bidding for a sixth successive Six Nations crown, and the world’s number one-ranked team look like being tough to stop.
Former New Zealand men’s head coach and England assistant John Mitchell is now at the helm, while his support staff includes World Cup winner and 141 times-capped former Red Roses number eight Sarah Hunter.
“I think it could be the most competitive ever,” Hunt, 35, told the PA news agency.
“It took us (England) two or three years to reap the benefits of having our professional contracts, and Scotland and Wales are now in that boat.
“Everyone wants to watch games that go down to the wire so the more competitive the games are, the better it is for the viewer.
“We have got a whole new game-plan, a whole new system that we are trying to implement, and we want to get that right and do what we can to put our best foot forward.”
Mitchell has made several changes from the team that beat New Zealand in the WXV1 final in November, with Emily Scarratt, Abbie Ward and Zoe Harrison among those returning.
Skipper Marlie Packer, meanwhile, becomes the seventh England women’s player to clock up a century of caps.
Hunt, Mitchell’s scrum-half bench option this weekend, was a surprise exclusion from England’s 2022 World Cup squad and the Six Nations presents another opportunity to show her quality after a successful WXV tournament.
“It was quite a shock,” she added, reflecting on her World Cup omission.
“I was at a bit of a crossroads in my career, I guess. At my age, it would have been quite easy to have thought ‘this is it’.
“But I just felt that I had so much more to give. I absolutely love playing for my country, and rugby is the best game ever.
“It did take me a while to consider whether I wanted to put myself back into that environment or not, but when I made that decision that it was something I wanted to go after, I have thrown everything at it.”
Wales full-back Jenny Hesketh will make her Test bow against Scotland, with Rachel Malcolm leading a Scotland team that includes debutant Alex Stewart among her back-row colleagues, while 18-year-old Leinster wing Katie Corrigan wins a first Ireland cap against France.
For the first time in a women’s rugby competition, the bunker system will operate, allowing referees an option to refer incidents of foul play for review when a potential red card is not clear and obvious.
And instrumented mouthguards, which were a feature of the men’s Six Nations this season and are designed to help with identifying a need for head injury assessments and provide in-game alerts to medical teams, will be worn by players throughout the tournament.
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Livingstone rallies for England to level Australia series
Liam Livingstone plundered an impressive 87 from 47 balls to propel England to a three-wicket victory and level their three-match T20I series against Australia.
Australia had put themselves in a strong position to take the series in their 200th men's T20I, but had no answer for Livingstone during England's chase.
Travis Head and Matt Short opened with a 52-run partnership, but Adil Rashid bowled the former before catching out the latter to end their stand.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (50) and Josh Inglis (42) pushed the tourists forward, but Livingstone (2-16) and Brydon Carse (2-26), in for the rested Jofra Archer, soon stalled their progress.
Aaron Hardie's late burst of 20 gave Australia a strong tally of 193-6, and they started strongly with the ball, too.
Short (5-22) ended Phil Salt's stand at 39 before Will Jacks (12) and Jordan Cox (0) were both dismissed by Sean Abbott in a single over.
But Livingstone would prove a thorn in Australia's side once again as he hit his half-century off 27 balls before carrying England closer to their total.
There was a slightly nervy ending, as England, needing just one run off nine balls, lost Livingstone and Carse in two balls before Adil Rashid got them over the line.
Data Debrief: Livingstone hits landmark
England have taken it to the final T20I thanks to Livingstone's heroics, with the series all to play for at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Livingstone's 87 is the highest score for England in a successful chase when batting four or lower, and he did so on his fifth T20I appearance for England.
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No Limits: Dynamic defender Wilson targets more success with Thunderbirds; ready to lead Sunshine Girls in England series
Jamaica’s netball star Latanya Wilson is riding high on the wave of success, both personally and professionally.
After two stellar seasons with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) League, Wilson is poised for even greater accomplishments, with two more years to go on her three-year contract, which concludes in 2026.
Wilson’s journey since joining the Thunderbirds in 2021 has so far been nothing short of remarkable, and she remains laser-focused on her goals—both for her club and country.
“My time with Adelaide has been a dream. When I first joined the Thunderbirds, I knew it was going to be a challenge, but the team has embraced me, and together we’ve achieved so much in a short space of time. We’ve been able to build a winning culture, and I’ve grown a lot as a player and as a person,” Wilson told SportsMax.Tv as she reflected.
“Winning two titles in the best league in the world is a massive achievement in my career, and I'm immensely proud of my team and myself for our hard work and dedication. But there’s still more to accomplish, more titles to chase, and more growth to be had,” she added, while flashing her infectious smile.
The dynamic defender’s powerful performances have earned her a reputation as one of the league’s premier players, and her contributions, in tandem with Sunshine Girls teammate Shamera Sterling-Humphrey, have helped the Thunderbirds emerge as perennial title contenders.
Speed, confidence, and good timing are key to Wilson's defensive prowess, and that, coupled with her ability to read the game, disrupt opponents, and rally her team during critical moments, has made her a fan favorite.
The 23-year-old tallied 46 intercepts, 89 deflections, 19 general turnovers, and 11 rebounds last season, and that has left her excited about what the next two years will bring with the Thunderbirds.
“While there's always pressure to perform, our focus is on continuous improvement as a team. If we achieve that, defending the title will come naturally for us, so I’m excited for what’s to come, and I know that with the talent and determination we have in this team, we can achieve even greater things,” Wilson declared.
While club success remains at the forefront of her mind, Wilson is also gearing up for an exciting chapter in her international career, as Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls are set to engage England in a four-match series against England, and her expectations are high.
With both teams tied on 187 rating points, a series win for the fourth-ranked Sunshine Girls would see them leap above their third-ranked opponents.
The series will see the Jamaicans travelling to England for the first two matches, scheduled for November 16 and 17, while the return games will take place at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica on November 25 and 26.
“The series against England is a big one for us. England is a tough opponent, but we’ve been working hard, and we’re ready for the challenge. Every game is an opportunity to get better, and we’re focused on building on our performances from the Netball World Cup to continue representing Jamaica at the highest level,” she shared.
Though the task of balancing university and a professional career can be an arduous journey, the soft-spoken Wilson is committed to pushing the barriers to achieve what she set out to.
“I stay motivated by the desire to provide for my family and my love for the game. Physically, I'm constantly pushing myself to improve through training and being accountable, and I approach each game with respect and determination,” Wilson reasoned.