Trophy cabinet continues to grow at Gloucester-Hartpury but ‘warrior queens’ are hungry for more
Sean Lynn and Mo Hunt have been heavily invested in the successive of Hartpury University but attentions turn to Premiership Women's Rugby this weekend
©BUCS
This weekend, ‘Queensholm’ bears witness to a tantalising match-up as Gloucester-Hartpury continue their quest for a third consecutive Premiership Women’s Rugby title.
Sean Lynn’s side host Bristol Bears in Sunday’s semi-final and in recent years, collecting silverware has become the norm for the institution.
Not only are the Cherry and Whites back-to-back PWR champions, on Wednesday night, Hartpury University defeated a spirited Cardiff Met 34-14 to win the first-ever Women’s BUCS Super Rugby title and their third league crown in a row.
“Winning becomes a habit, and we want to breed that competitiveness,” Gloucester-Hartpury co-captain Mo Hunt explained following the exceptional result of their university side, who are led by Women's Academy Manager Andrew Ford.
“Their result is amazing for us. It gives us that boost, and we want to follow in their footsteps. They’ve done three in a row, so now we’re going to try and back it up.
Head coach Sean Lynn, who has vast experience within the university rugby landscape, added: “When I first took the role on, the main thing was making sure that we get the pathway right.
“We wanted to get Gloucester-Hartpury to a special place and wanted a pathway people look at and want to play.”
A significant part of the success Gloucester-Hartpury have experienced in recent times can be attributed to the pathway between the university and the PWR side.
The connection has been crucial to both institutions and has not only bred the success Hunt describes but has also been instrumental in the development of players.
The likes of Millie Hyett, Erin Bradley, Emma Sing, Pip Hendy - to name but a few - have all been involved in the pathway in one form or another and this season, back-three player Nel Metcalfe is one of the latest names to do the same.
The 20-year-old - who has featured eight times for Gloucester-Hartpury in PWR this term - co-captained the university side on Wednesday evening, and Hunt was full of praise for her teammate.
“I cannot speak highly enough of her,” Hunt, who is very much invested in the university pathway, said. “The way she applies herself in training, and whichever squad she's in, she raises the standard.
“You can see that the programme is really working, and it’s a pleasure to be a part of and a pleasure to play alongside these girls, let alone coach them.”
Bringing it back to Sunday’s semi-final clash against Bristol, it will be a repeat of last year’s final in which Gloucester-Hartpury came from behind to win 36-24 at Sandy Park.
This term, both sides have won a game apiece against each other but since the reigning champions lost to the Bears 19-14 at home back in November, they have won their last nine matches.
“We learnt a lot from that loss, especially at home, we weren’t really on our game,” Red Rose Hunt admitted.
“I thought Bristol were fantastic that day. They took their opportunities really well but this weekend, it's all about us. If we get our game right, I don’t think there’s any teams that can match.”
Head coach Lynn echoed Hunt’s assertion of confidence: “If you’re asking a side to go out there and have that grit, I wouldn’t have anyone else out there.
“I’m all about having warrior queens, and these individuals will just go out and fly into that.”
Despite the job at hand, it will be an emotional weekend for Lynn, who, after five years in charge, will depart Gloucester-Hartpury at the end of the season to become the new Wales head coach.
“For me, it's just making sure I'm enjoying these moments,” Lynn admitted. “Obviously, the emotions when I drive through the gate on Sunday are the last time I will be going in and leading this Gloucester-Hartpury team.
“I’m super proud of where we've come from in this four or five-year journey, and I'm just all about getting into this semi-final. It's 80 minutes, 15 v 15, one ball in the middle, and let's go out in a special place at Queensholm.”
“We’ve got a lot to be playing for this weekend,” Hunt added in response to Lynn’s departure.
“We all know how much it means to him and we all want that for him as well to be able to give ourselves that shot at the cup for a third time running. It’ll definitely mean a lot to him, and he’s done so much for the club. He’s been unbelievable.
“We’re not going to get carried away with emotion. We know that knockout rugby is all about what we do and how we go about it, and we’ll be the same.
“We’ve been here for the last three years. We know what it’s going to take, and we’re ready for it.”
With over 4,000 tickets already sold for Sunday’s game, the atmosphere promises to be electric and will be heightened even more by the rebranding of the iconic stadium from Kingsholm to Queensholm for the weekend.
“It means a hell of a lot to me,” Lynn added. “Whenever we’re at Queensholm, I just make sure that the girls are aware that they’re creating this.
“They are amazing, inspiring role models, and to have an iconic stadium changed to Queensholm, it’s very special to me. It’s a lovely finish.”
Despite all the emotion and atmosphere around the game, England international Hunt reiterated it is business as usual come Sunday.
“We love cup rugby, we love the backs against the wall elements to it and the girls really rise to the challenge.
“We need to be on it from the first minute. Obviously, they’ve got star quality across the board, and we know what they bring. The physicality battle is going to be huge, but we just need to get our game right especially when we’re going forward, being really clinical with the ball.”
“The message we’re talking about is control, both in attack and defence,” Lynn added.
“There will be times where you don’t have that control, but it’s about making sure, as a group of leaders and players, we dig deep and get that control back.
“They’re a very good outfit, but this is cup rugby, and we’re getting really excited for it.”
