Ian Hunter (rugby union)
Ian Hunter (born 15 February 1969 in Harrow, London) is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing or at full back for Northampton Saints and England. He is married with a daughter Olivia and is managing director of a new media and marketing company in Northampton (www.jellyfishcreative.co.uk).
He marked the start of his career with impressive try scoring feats (2 on debut and another in his second test) but was controversially dropped from the England side after his 3rd test in favour of Tony Underwood following the 10-9 loss to Wales, despite the fact that he played well and it was long standing incumbent Rory Underwood whose defensive error allowed the Welsh winger Ieuan Evans to score the decisive try.
He did not feature regularly for the England side after that but was selected for the 1993 Lions Tour to New Zealand however injury cruelly struck and he was the first player sent home through injury when he dislocated his shoulder in a tackle in the first game against North Harbour.
His seventh and final appearance came against France in the 3rd place play off game in 1995 World Cup.
His shoulder never properly healed enough to stand the demands of top class rugby and he retired totally from the game in 1999. He was noted throughout his career for being particularly fit - in 1993 he finished top of the England Squad (with a score on a par with the fitness required by an Olympic gold medal winner) on the much-vaunted VO2 test.
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