Captain Marlie Packer set to become only the seventh woman to play 100 Tests for England when she features in Six Nations clash against Italy as she reflects on how the game has grown and aims for 2025 World Cup glory at Twickenham
Marlie Packer will on Sunday become only the seventh woman to play 100 Tests for England.
Her journey to this point – via a debut in Amsterdam, juggling her playing career with her day job as a plumber, and welcoming her son Oliver to the world – has been remarkable.
But the Red Roses captain is far from done just yet as she looks to lead her team to another Six Nations title. Packer is the central figure as John Mitchell’s side have targeted their own ‘Everest’ – the challenge of winning their home World Cup in front of a sold-out Twickenham in 2025.
‘I can definitely say that from now until the World Cup final, we will sell out Twickenham. We will raise that bar again in women’s rugby,’ Packer told The Mail on Sunday.
’As a group we talk about our Everest and the peak we’re trying to get to. The World Cup final with a sold-out Twickenham is that. It’s something we’re all aiming for.
Captain Marlie Packer is set to become the seventh woman to play 100 Tests for England
Packer is the heartbeat of an England side that are aiming for glory at the 2025 World Cup
‘We’ve got a good product and an audience for women’s rugby now. We had 58,000 at Twickenham in the last Six Nations. It was probably the proudest moment of my life running out as captain that day against France with my son as the mascot. It shows how the game has grown.’
England are the dominant force in women’s rugby. They have won the last five Six Nations. Their 30-match winning run came to an end at the worst possible moment in 2022 when they were beaten in the final of the last World Cup by New Zealand. The Red Roses want revenge in 2025.
Packer is the heartbeat of their side. She will bring up the milestone of a century of games for her country in Sunday’s Six Nations opener with Italy in Parma.
‘When I first started, I didn’t even know there was a women’s rugby team that represented England. As soon as I did, I wanted to be a part of it,’ she said.
’I just loved playing. It was a sport that allowed me to express myself and the journey I’ve been on from then to now has been absolutely amazing. It’s one I’m truly grateful for.
’I picked up my first senior cap in Amsterdam in 2008 against Sweden. That was very memorable. It took three years and three months after that for me to get my second cap. A lot changed in my life in that time and it meant I wanted that second cap probably more than I’ve wanted anything else before in my life.
‘I was a young 18-year-old and was still in college when I got my first cap. In 2012, my first Six Nations, we got a Grand Slam. I played every match and got the players’ player award.
’Back then, our awards event was at Esher Rugby Club as an after-party function after we’d won a Grand Slam against Ireland. Now, we have a glitzy awards evening that’s shared with the men.
Packer stated that so much has changed for women’s rugby during her time as a player
England are the dominant force in women’s rugby. They have won the last five Six Nations
Under new head coach John Mitchell, England are aiming to become a more attacking team
‘So much has changed. That day at Esher there were a couple of hundred people there and a few dogs. Now we play in front of nearly 60,000 people.’
Packer has had to ask for extra tickets so her family and friends can join her in Italy for what should be a day to remember. Italy are unlikely to be able to live with England’s pace and power.
In their first campaign under new head coach Mitchell, the Red Roses are looking to evolve their game to become a more attacking side.
‘Women’s sport in general is on a massive high at the moment,’ said Packer, who tasted global glory with England in 2014 and also started the 2017 and 2022 defeats by New Zealand.
’We want to smash through glass ceilings. I see it as trying to be a pioneer of greatness. I want to maximise this time because after the World Cup, I don’t know where my career will go.
’Before I had Oliver, I didn’t think it would change anything. He gives me perspective. It’s something I didn’t know I needed but also something I’m truly grateful for.
’No matter how good or bad my day is at rugby, I walk through the front door and know I’m going to get a big smile from him. I joke it’s Oliver’s world and I’m just living in it.
’He cracks me up because he knows when I’m a bit sore from rugby.
’He goes: “Mummy have you got a baddy back?” and I’m like: “Yes!” He loves coming to training. He always asks to come to mummy’s work.
‘There is no better feeling than knowing we have a home World Cup coming in 2025 and that we’re world No 1 at the minute. We will get to prove that on home soil.’
Packer has had to ask for extra tickets so her family and friends can join her in Italy for what should be a day to remember. Italy are unlikely to be able to live with England’s pace and power
