Marlie Packer on England’s Dominance and 2025 Hopes
England will host next year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, in an interview with SportsBoom, Captain Marlie Packer reflects on the current season and expectations for next year’s showpiece.
Dominance of the Red Roses
England are on a 20 match unbeaten run and solidify their spot at the top of the World Rugby rankings.
“England Rugby has been dominant for many different reasons to be fair. The league system over here in England has really pushed players in the funds that the RFU [Rugby Football Union] has put in the PWR [Premiership Women’s Rugby] and the clubs have massively given us the depths in the squad to push us,” Packer told SportsBoom.com.
“If we pick up an injury or if someone is not performing there is always someone to fill in that spot. Its just credit to where the RFU have invested in the Women’s game.”
WXV campaign review
In the latest edition of the WXV campaign, they faced some stiff competition and managed to make it 3 from 3 wins with a tough encounter against the hosts Canada to conclude the 2024 season.
“I haven’t had that much time to reflect, just yet but we’ve come out of it as WXV1 champions. We talked about that 12 weeks ago. That was what we wanted to go out there and do. The way the last game went, Canada really tested us in certain areas but we clinched that win and sometimes you have to win ugly.”
“In that game we obviously picked up two yellow cards in the second half but our bench as we call them our Super 8, came on and played phenomenally for us and reviewing that game myself personally as a player not as a Red Roses captain there is stuff we need to work on as a group and as individuals.”
“Those types of games when you are playing the best of the best, you don’t get to do that often. If you don’t play them, you don’t know where you need to fix things.”
Rugby World Cup in England
World Rugby officially announced the Rugby World Cup Draw and schedule for the showpiece held next year. The Red Roses are in Group A and will play the opening game of the tournament against USA, then Samoa and Australia to conclude the group stages.
Allianz Stadium formerly known as Twickenham Stadium will host the Bronze Final and Final. Packer expects record crowd attendance considering the support the previous World Cup had in New Zealand, including the forever growing Women’s Rugby community worldwide.
“Definitely should expect big numbers, 66,000 is the biggest crowd at the women’s game which was at the Olympics [Paris] which is incredible in itself. I back us to beat that in 2025, Allianz Stadium is 82,000 seater. I honestly do feel we can sell out that stadium. What an incredible experience that would be, not only for the players that are playing in that game but also the fans, it will really be a special for both players and fans.”
With thanks to SportsBoom.
