Ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, England rugby star Natasha ‘Mo’ Hunt sat down with her role model and music icon Melanie C ‘Sporty Spice’ in an exclusive discussion. The pair reflected on their careers, their shared values and the power of female role models.
Volvic’s video comes as new YouGov research shows 87% of women believe team sports help girls build life skills like teamwork, resilience and leadership. In the video interview, the pair also highlighted Volvic’s Force of Nature Fund, which is offering grants up to £5,000 to help more girls across the UK get into the game and awaken their inner force.
Volvic is proud to be the official water supplier of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 and is thrilled to keep players hydrated alongside the passionate fans in the stadiums. Volvic has partnered with Mo Hunt to launch the Force of Nature Fund initiative, with the aim of getting more girls playing rugby.
From Malvern RFC to World Cup stadiums, Mo earned her first senior cap in 2011 and is a true force of nature with her dedication and remarkable performances, inspiring young girls to play rugby. Mo’s success has proven her powers of resilience, discipline and belief – with a mindset focused on knowing how to balance progress and recovery. Volvic champions this approach, encouraging all to awaken their own individual force of nature.
When asked about how she discovered her inner force Natasha Hunt says: “I stood in my grandma’s kitchen and thought, I’m going to play for England one day. I always had the ambition to represent my country at something. In rugby, nothing can be left to chance. Nutrition and hydration are absolutely crucial, and discipline is at the heart of everything I do to prepare. Every detail matters.”
In a candid interview, Mo sits down with one of her early sporting inspirations, Melanie C. The two share personal stories from their own careers in sport and in music, discussing how they channel their own inner force to perform at the highest level, what it takes to become a role model, and Mo shares her hopes for the upcoming tournament.
Melanie C was not only monumental in defining an era of female empowerment globally, but also for Mo in particular. When discussing early role model inspiration, Natasha Hunt adds, “When I was little, there were very few role models to look up to. I think that Sporty Spice, pretty much stands out in terms of somebody that we could actually pin our hat on and say, I want to be like that.”
The new research from Volvic revealed that 80% of women agree that female athletes like England’s rugby team are inspirational role models, yet 73% of women aged 35+ felt they didn’t have one growing up*. Digging deeper, 84% of women agree that it is important for the next generation to have visible female athletes to encourage participation. When reflecting on the next generation of girls growing up now, Melanie C added, “My daughter’s 16 and it’s been really interesting to me, to see how much more choice she has as a girl in sport. Sports more traditionally thought of as ‘men’s’ are now more open to girls than ever”.
With three in five (60%) women believing the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 will inspire more girls to take up the sport, there’s a growing need to ensure the infrastructure keeps pace with this momentum. World Rugby data shows there are just 400 female-focused rugby clubs in the UK, compared to 2,000 for men1.That’s why Volvic is investing in the grassroots community, with grants available to help support and make a tangible difference in the game for girls across the country.
Ahead of the summer of Women’s sport, Natasha Hunt explains: “This is such a monumental moment for women’s rugby. We’re entering a new era where more eyes are on women’s rugby more than ever. But what’s concerning players like me is participation, we need more girls getting involved in the sport at a grassroot level, for the sake of the sport’s future. We need more girls picking up a ball and believing they belong. That’s why I’m buzzing to be working with Volvic to support their initiative of getting more girls into rugby.”
Beyond the interview, Melanie explains, “There is so much happening in women’s sport, it’s such an honour to be brought into conversations with sporting personalities like Mo and to learn about the impact that my ‘sporty’ image had on her growing up. Today, female role models in football, rugby and all sports are absolutely smashing it, they are more visible and celebrated than when I was a child. It’s exciting to hear young girls saying, ‘I want to be a rugby player,’ and believing it’s possible. Now that I’ve got a daughter of my own, I realise how important it is to celebrate the incredible things women are doing not just in music, but in sport too. We’ve got to keep that momentum going.”
Rachel Hann, category director beverages at Danone, said: “Staying hydrated is important for all athletes. This summer is a pivotal moment for women’s rugby with world class female players ready to unleash their force on a global stage, and Volvic is excited to support these athletes alongside helping fans stay hydrated in the stadiums. Our Force of Nature Fund will be offering grants to grassroots women’s rugby clubs across the nation, inviting each to join our mission of getting more girls into rugby.”
With the aim of getting more girls into rugby, Volvic’s Force of Nature Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 to grassroots rugby clubs and organisations inviting them to join their mission to get more girls into rugby. From creating female changing facilities, purchasing girls’ rugby kit or increasing the number of girls-only training sessions apply HERE to secure your grant.
For more information on the Force of Nature Fund and full terms and conditions, please visit: www.volvic.co.uk/forceofnaturefund
