England rugby star Hunt: fan demand for selfies has become impossible to meet

England women's rugby international Natasha Hunt has said the Red Roses' remarkable growth in popularity over the past decade has created an unexpected challenge: it is no longer possible to meet every fan's request for a photo or autograph after matches.

Hunt, 37, made her England debut in 2011, when matches typically drew crowds only in the hundreds. The team's following grew steadily, and in 2019 a Women's Six Nations match against France set a new attendance record of 4,674 for a standalone Red Roses fixture outside a Rugby World Cup.

For Saturday's match against New Zealand at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium, more than 50,000 tickets have already been sold. That venue also hosted last year's Rugby World Cup final, where a world-record crowd of 81,885 watched England beat Canada to become world champions in a full sell-out.

Speaking to Rugby Union Weekly, Hunt said she never imagined she would see crowds of this size during her career. She stressed that the players do not take the support for granted and are deeply grateful to their fans.

However, she acknowledged the team now faces a difficult balancing act, as fans increasingly expect to get a photo or signature from every player. Hunt said supporters often ask her to fetch specific teammates, such as Ellie Kildunne or Meg Jones, but this is frequently impossible because those players are simultaneously being approached by hundreds of other fans.

She added that some players have received direct messages from disappointed fans saying that meeting them would have made their day. Hunt said such messages are upsetting, since every player wants fans to have the best possible experience.