Mitch Hunt

Mitch Hunt

Full name	Mitchell James Hunt
Date of birth	(1995-06-19) 19 June 1995 (age 29)
Place of birth	Nelson, New Zealand
Height	172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	88 kg (194 lb; 13 st 12 lb)
School	Nelson College
Rugby union career
Position(s) First five-eighth, Fullback Current team Kamaishi Seawaves Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015 Auckland 7 (10) 2016–2019 Crusaders 45 (149) 2016–2023 Tasman 68 (562) 2020–2023 Highlanders 52 (247) 2023–2024 Honda Heat 7 (21) 2024– Kamaishi Seawaves () Correct as of 2 March 2024 International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2015 New Zealand U20 8 (56) 2020 North Island 1 (0) Correct as of 2 March 2024

Mitchell James Hunt (born 19 June 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a first five-eighth or fullback for the Honda Heat.^[1][2]

Born and raised in the city of Nelson in the South Island of New Zealand, Hunt attended Nelson College in his hometown where he enjoyed a successful time, playing 51 times for their top side. He moved north to study engineering at the University of Auckland after graduating college and began playing local club rugby in the Auckland area. During his time in Auckland, he was a member of the Blues development squad and Auckland's national sevens team.^[2]

Hunt made the Auckland squad for the 2015 ITM Cup and scored 10 points in 7 games as his side reached the competition's final before going down to Canterbury. He returned home to Nelson in 2016 and turned out for the Tasman Mako. Playing mainly in the number 15 jersey, Hunt started all 12 games for the Mako during the season which again saw him finish on the losing side once again in the final, with Canterbury once more coming out on top.^[1][2] Hunt was part of the Tasman side that won the Mitre 10 Cup for the first time in 2019.^[3] He was picked in the North Island squad for the North vs South rugby union match in 2020 coming off the bench in a 35-38 loss for the North. In Round 6 of the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup Hunt played his 50th game for the Mako against Auckland at Eden Park in Auckland. The Mako went on to win their second premiership title in a row with Hunt starting all 12 games in the number 10 jersey and scoring 97 points in the 2020 season. Hunt was named as co captain of the Tasman Mako squad for the 2021 Bunnings NPC alongside Quinten Strange with the absence of regular captain David Havili due to All Blacks duties. Tasman went on to make the final with Hunt having another outstanding season before losing 23–20 to Waikato.

Just 7 appearances in his debut season of provincial rugby were all it took to convince the Christchurch based Crusaders that he was worthy of a Super Rugby contract. He made their senior squad for the first time in 2016 and made 2 substitute appearances during his debut campaign. He was retained for the 2017 Super Rugby season.^[1] Hunt moved south to the Highlanders in 2020.^[4] Hunt had a very strong 2021 Super Rugby season establishing himself as the Highlanders first choice 10 as the side made the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final where they lost 23-15 to the Blues.

Hunt was a member of the New Zealand side which won the 2015 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Italy.^[5]