FOREST rugby stars Natasha Hunt and Abbie Brown helped England’s sevens side to brilliant bronze at the Commonwealth Games, while Rio Olympic medallist Vicky Holland struck sterling silver in the triathlon relay.

Drybook RFC product Hunt, 29, switched full-time to sevens last year after losing out to New Zealand 41-32 in last year’s 15-aside World Cup Final.

And former Hartpury College student Brown, 22, skippered the England team Down Under on the Gold Coast, having made the semi-finals alongside Hunt as part of the GB team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. 

But there was all to play for in the bronze-medal play-off, where the Forest duo were determined to put their Rio heartbreak to bed.

Natasha kicked two conversions as England beat Canada in the final.

Delighted team skipper Brown said: “To come out here and get a medal is just an amazing feeling. Canada are a great team and we knew they were going to bring us something and that is good for us as it tested us.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out this is the start of something special and I’m so proud of all of the girls as they gave 100 per cent out there and I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Former Newent Community School pupil Holland, 32, was just squeezed out of the medals in fourth in the individual women’s triathlon, but then took silver in the mixed relay with the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, and Jess Learmonth.