Great Britain sprint star Amy Hunt visited the England rugby team's training facility on Wednesday, observing a session and sharing lunch with the players ahead of Sunday's Nations Championship fixture against Australia. The 24-year-old athlete, who secured four gold medals at last summer's European Championships in Birmingham, is the latest high-profile sporting figure to offer Steve Borthwick's squad insights into her career.
Back row player Ben Earl told BBC Sport that Hunt appeared enthusiastic about the visit, noting the team's appreciation for interacting with individuals who have achieved success in other sports. Earl highlighted Hunt's academic background, mentioning Fraser Dingwall's revelation that she holds a degree from Cambridge, which he finds remarkable given her simultaneous achievements at the highest level of sport.
Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth emphasized the positive energy generated by hosting winners who inspire others through their actions. He stated that such visits help create valuable connections within the squad. Hunt follows in the footsteps of other celebrities who have visited the team, including tennis champion Emma Raducanu before last autumn's victory over New Zealand, and football manager Thomas Tuchel alongside Olympic skeleton racer Matt Weston during this year's Six Nations campaign.
On Wednesday, Leeds Rhinos assistants Chev Walker and Scott Grix also met with Borthwick and his staff. Walker previously played for Bath after briefly switching codes in 2006. Additionally, players and coaches from the UK Armed Forces team attended the session. The UK Armed Forces are scheduled to face Belgium in a Remembrance Day match on November 11 at Gloucester's Kingsholm ground, with Borthwick and assistant Joe El-Abd set to conduct a training session for them at Sandhurst on Thursday.
England's upcoming match against the Wallabies marks the first of four games played on consecutive weekends in November. The schedule includes fixtures against Japan and New Zealand, followed by a play-off opponent that has yet to be decided.
Sources: BBC Sport.