Hull City Council’s Leaving Care Team Manager Lisa Hunter has shared her memories about her role in a piece of British sporting history.
Lisa was part of the Great Britain Women’s Rugby League team. In 1996, they embarked on their first ever tour of Australia – the first of its kind by an all-female British Rugby League team. It was also the first time Lisa had ever been on a plane.
The tour was a great success for the team, who went on to win six of the seven matches against their hosts. They also won the test series against the mighty Aussies, 2-1. To this day, they are still the only team to ever beat Australia on their own turf in a test series.
These games were the first rugby league internationals played by any Great Britain or England women’s team.
At the time, the team received little support, media coverage or recognition for their achievement.
In October 2024, 28 years after their international tour, the 1996 Lionesses were the first team (female or male) to ever be inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame.
Lisa said: “I worked for Hull Sports Development when I was selected. To get into the team was tough. The final selection was a squad of 26 women, primarily from the north of England. It was a big honour to represent our city.
“Getting into the team was the first hurdle. After the trials and the difficultly getting into the team, we had to raise the money to pay for our own travel and accommodation. We needed to raise £80,000 to just get to Australia, which was a lot of money back in 1996. We raised the money doing things like sponsored runs, race nights, bucket collections, packing people’s shopping, and sponsored events.
“Six weeks before we were due to go, we had no flights. There’s a pretty unbelievable story that I will tell people about if they want to hear it – Richard Branson helped us!
“When we were there, we had the most amazing experience, obviously made better because we won all but one of our games. We played and visited, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra. In Australia, there was coverage on TV and in the media, where we really felt the success and achievement.
“When we got back to England, there was no welcome party, no fans and no media coverage, which was disappointing. If that had been a men’s team, it would have been very different.
“I can’t say that I had no support, my dad and one of my sisters were my biggest fans, but as a team, there was no hero’s welcome. The lack of public recognition for what we achieved was crushing.”
In 2022, the team were all recognised and presented with their ‘caps’ and ‘heritage numbers’ by the Rugby Football League (RFL). In the same year, three of the team were also the first women ever to be inducted into the Rugby League Hall of Fame alongside their male counterparts.
Lisa added: “It was a momentous occasion for the full squad of 1996, it was a very special group of women that all played a vital part in the history of women’s rugby league and women’s sport generally. It was an experience that I will never forget.
“My love for sport and specifically rugby has been an integral part of my life, it is also in my DNA. My uncle played for Hull Kingston Rovers before and after World War 2. However, I am a dedicated Hull FC fan.
“I transferred from Hull Sports Development to the Leaving Care Team in 1999. I have worked for Hull City Council for 35 years. I love working for the council and I love my city. I am very proud to have been born and raised in Hull.
“2024 was a special year, not only was our team recognised but we also celebrated 25 years of the Leaving Care Team in Hull. A trip down memory lane – marking 25 years of service to care leavers in Hull.
“I brought so much to my job from being involved in team sports, and my love for the great outdoors continues to be a massive part of my life today. I always say participation, being outdoors, or taking part in sport, is a great foundation for young people too, as it supports building relationships and trust. I used to lead our outdoor residentials for our children in care back when I started, and I loved it.”
Councillor Linda Tock, the portfolio holder for Children’s Services at Hull City Council, said: “Lisa is an asset to the council. We are proud of all that she has achieved in sport, as well as the work she has done to support children across many, many years in Hull.”
