Former England captain reacts to being stripped of title

Marlie Packer has said she will do “everything” she can to help new England captain Zoe Aldcroft in the role.

Aldcroft, who has won 58 caps since making her debut in 2016, was named the skipper for 2025 which means she will captain the side during the Women’s Six Nations and the ground-breaking Rugby World Cup.

The change in captaincy sees Packer, who will continue to play for the team, named as a vice-captain. Packer was named England captain after the retirement of Sarah Hunter in 2022 and has won two Women’s Six Nations trophies and two WXV 1 titles in the role.

She said of being stripped of the title: “I have loved every minute of being captain of the Red Roses and have created memories in the role that will last a lifetime. I remain determined to be the best Red Rose I can be and will continue to give everything to the team.

“Zoe is a fantastic leader who deserves this opportunity. The way she conducts herself on and off the field is outstanding; she has all the attributes to succeed as Red Roses captain. She has my full support, and I will do everything I can to enable her.”

Aldcroft, 28, has held a leadership role in the England team for a number of years. She is also Gloucester-Hartpury’s co-captain, alongside England teammate Mo Hunt.

Lock Aldcroft said of her appointment: “It’s an incredible honour to be awarded the Red Roses captaincy. I feel privileged to have the trust of John Mitchell and the coaching staff.

“To be able to follow in Marlie’s footsteps means a lot to me. I am extremely grateful for the knowledge and advice she has shared with me over the years, and I know I will be well supported by her, Meg and our whole leadership group.”

England head coach John Mitchell hinted that the competition in the back row, Packer’s position, is one of the main reasons behind the change of captain.

He said: “Marlie is an incredible person and an inspiring leader, whose contributions as captain to our culture and leadership have been invaluable. She will continue to play a significant role in helping us raise our performance levels in 2025.

“As with many positions, there is intense competition for places in the back row and Marlie’s ability to deliver big performances on the pitch needs to be her focus. I’ve outlined as a challenge for her, one that I know she’ll take on with everything she has.

“Making decisions like this is never easy, but I believe it will push us to perform at our best and ultimately benefit the Red Roses. Marlie has been entrusted with a continued leadership role and she will undoubtedly be pivotal in supporting Zoe, and working alongside Meg [Jones], to lead the team in 2025, ensuring we reach our full potential.”

England’s next game is their first Women’s Six Nations fixture against Italy on 23rd March.