Following her recent on-field retirement from the Red Roses, legendary England Women’s Captain Sarah Hunter has been announced as one of the new faces in the coaching staff. Hunter has been confirmed to be the new Transition Coach for the Red Roses, focusing on the Pathway and Senior Women’s sides.
Hunter is England’s most-capped player with 141 appearances for the Red Roses. The 37-year-old retired in her hometown of Newcastle after Round One of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations, as England secured a resounding 58-7 victory over Scotland.
As the Red Roses’ new Transition Coach, Hunter will be involved with progressing the development of up-and-coming stars in the Senior and Pathway teams. Hunter has a a reported ‘focus on the forwards, breakdown and defensive systems.’ Hunter’s addition to the coaching staff sees Women’s Sevens and Performance Manager Charlie Hayter progress to a new role as Head of Women’s Performance.
Furthermore, U20s Head Coach Lou Meadows has progressed to a new role, as the Attach Coach for the Red Roses. These changes all come alongside the new appointment of John Mitchell as England Women’s Head Coach. Mitchell takes over the reigns from Simon Middleton, who marked the end of an era last weekend.
Middleton stepped down from a nine year run with the RFU, with his final accomplishment of his decorated career, being seeing his side win the 2023 Women’s Six Nations Grand Slam.