On Saturday in her hometown of Newcastle, England captain Sarah Hunter will mark her retirement after England’s first Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland.
Kingston Park, where Hunter first played rugby union on the back fields and once sold matchday programmes so she could watch Newcastle Falcons play, is sold out for England’s match.
Hunter, who is 37 years old and a back-row forward, holds the record for the world’s most-capped female player with 140 caps, and is also the most-capped player in England, regardless of gender.
Throughout her career since debuting in 2007, she has won 10 Six Nations titles, including nine Grand Slams, and one World Cup.
“Everything has to come to an end at some point,” she told BBC Sport.
“The RFU kindly put a Red Roses game finally at Newcastle, which is my home city where I grew up. I just couldn’t not give it a go to play in the game.
“I started playing rugby in Newcastle, finishing there feels like I’ve come full circle.”