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The Armitage Spotlight Presents:

Rising Star on The Rugby Scene.

By Ellie Simpkins.

08 March 2024

I f you happen to be awake at 5 am and look out your window, odds are you’ll see Colin Hunt jogging down the streets of Craigavon. Every single morning. No matter the temperature or weather.

You may think this is an exaggeration perhaps, but you’d be sorely mistaken because very little deters Colin, if anything at all.

You’ve undoubtedly heard the surname ‘Hunt’ before. It’s one synonymous with rugby, a legacy that was started by renowned former English Rugby Union player Kenneth Hunt, most notably for his major contributions to England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup Championship title, and one that is continued to this day by his three sons.

Despite his age, Colin’s name is already steeped in success thanks to his outstanding and impactful seasons playing for England’s U20 squad during The Six Nations and for the Craigavon Knight’s U17 squad, but it’s his stellar career with the Armitage Admirals, who have remained nearly undefeated for the last two years thanks in large part to his impressive influence on the field a nd his Jonny-Wilkinson-like kicking abilities, that’s really put his name on the map.

Based on appearances alone, most people would assume they have the young fullback all figured out, but there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye.

Colin is diligent, level-headed and surprisingly down to earth, handling the near-constant wave of attention he receives like it’s barely even there. He’s a creature of habit as well. His daily life follows a rhythm and routine that’s uncomplicated yet structured, but also flexible enough to allow for any unexpected changes. Most mornings, he sits down to breakfast with his best friends and fellow teammates; Mace Madsen and Kai Hara and then he trains alone. Usually for an hour or two, just to fine-tune anything about his game he isn’t happy with.

“If you’re looking for Colin and you can’t find him, odds are he’s out on the field, practising . That’s the measure of the man.”

- Mace Madsen, Armitage Admirals right wing.

Some of his other habits aren’t quite as serious, but rather quirkier and even light-hearted. Like how he always eats lasagna at Prosperi’s, a local Italian restaurant in the heart of Craigavon, after every match or how he only listens to 80’s music on ‘game day’ and insists on lacing up his rugby boots with brand new white shoelaces before every game, claiming that it brings him good luck.

“I know it seems silly, but the one time I didn’t do it is still permanently burnt into my memory. I got tackled like I had a target painted on my back, dropped several catches and missed nearly every kick I took that night. Worst game of my career so far.”

- Colin Hunt .

Like his father and brothers before him, playing rugby professionally has been a life-long dream, but Colin’s dedication to that future hasn’t stopped him from looking for other outlets beyond the field. Friday nights are spent at home, watching movies, sitting down to read a good book or bonding with his teammates, who are more like an extension of his family, over video games and rounds of table tennis. He goes out of his way to detach from the sport he loves, stating that it’s more important than people realise.

“As hard as we train and as much as we love the game, if all you eat and breathe is this sport, it’ll swallow you whole. My father warned me that rugby isn’t for the faint of heart. If I want to play it at the highest level then I have to give it my all. There’s no room for uncertainty or half-measures, but he also made me promise to always keep a part of myself for me, so I’ll never forget who I am, who I have around me and who I’ll always be even after I stop playing rugby.”

- Colin Hunt.

However, the true essence of who Colin is comes out when he’s around his family. He idolises his older brothers; Graeme and Bryce. He adores his mother to death and while their player-coach relationship tends to come first, it’s clear there’s very little love lost between Colin and his father; who is credited as his biggest inspiration.

“I’d be nothing without them (his family). They are my solid ground and where the foundations of who I truly am were built long ago.”

-Colin Hunt

But with his final year at Armitage University underway and the end of his last season with the Admirals looming, the pressure is on the young fullback to perform now more than ever. With a legacy to l ive up to and both of his brothers already making names for themselves on the Premiership and international rugby scene, Colin’s promising professional future hinges on his performance against Armitage’s long-standing rivals; the Bancroft Bulldogs in the highly anticipated final tonight.

“Winning the Craigavon Derby is never easy, especially in a final, but we have an edge. We have Hunt.”

- Kai Hara, Armitage admirals outside centre.

That statement still holds true because despite Colin sustaining a minor injury to his knee recently, his teammate's spirits haven’t been dampened in the slightest. In fact, Hunt’s determination to be declared match-fit for the titular game has only inspired them further.

But winning isn’t the only thing that matters to him.

“I’ve won plenty of games. There’s a rush and feeling of gratification that comes with every victory. It’s what we always aim to achieve. If we do lose though, then at least we’ll know we tried our hardest. That we gave it our all. Win or lose, we’ll do that together. If I can walk off the field knowing that I didn’t let the lads down, it’s enough for me.”

- Colin Hunt.

Whichever way the match goes, his family, friends and Armitage’s entire student body will be standing behind him and the Admirals tonight, hoping to see them hoist the highly coveted Sterling Cross trophy.

“This injury was a setback, but a setback is just another challenge. Come game day, Colin will give it his all. His devotion knows no bounds.”

- Kenneth Hunt; from a statement released to the public announcing that Colin is match-fit for the final .

Devotion is, in fact, the perfect word to describe Colin.

It shines through, not just in his actions on the field or his love for the game, but also in the way in which he lives his life. He carries himself with humility and constantly strives to improve. He’s driven by a sense of personal honour and a desire to always be at his best, both on and off the field. Rugby is a part of him, but it isn’t everything he is. So much more is hidden beneath the surface, making him stand out from the rest. He’s devoted to his team, his family, his friends and to the people he loves the most and we should all aim to hold ourselves to that same incredible standard.