Packer ‘not hanging up boots any time soon’

After winning a second World Cup with the Red Roses, England flanker Marlie Packer says she is “not hanging up her boots any time soon.”

The 36-year-old was England’s vice captain for the tournament and one of only four other members of the squad who also won the 2014 World Championship.

Packer’s only tournament appearance was against Samoa, where she won her 112th cap.

I’ll decide whether to continue playing for the Saracens for a while and then decide, but I’ll be working on it until June 2026, Packer told BBC Radio Somerset.

More of a case, I simply want to enjoy this time with my club, my family, and then decide when I want to make those choices.

After two seasons in the captaincy, Packer, who won the World Player of the Year in 2023, took over as England’s captain in January. She then skippered the team for their World Cup warm-up match against Spain in August.

Following a week of celebrations after winning the trophy at Twickenham, the Yeovil-born back-row forward claimed her main priority was already returning to her club for the new Premiership Women’s Rugby season, which kicks off on October 24.

In the run-up to the World Cup, Packer said, “I feel the fittest, the best I’ve felt in a long time. I’ve got myself in great shape.”

Packer played for England before New Zealand defeated them in the World Cup final in 2021.

She described the “special, sometimes overwhelming” response to the team during the tournament as “the special, at times overwhelming,” adding that it was just the sense of achievement to witness Twickenham packed with 82, 000 spectators for the this year’s final, which saw the Red Roses defeat Canada 33-13.

While Packer’s main inspiration was her five-year-old son Oliver, who was a huge motivator for the England team at their home World Cup, was instilling a love for women’s rugby in the country.

She said, “I wanted to inspire him to accomplish whatever he set his mind to.”

He’s just staring up at me, which is what this was all about, according to me.