In a major shakeup for England women’s rugby, head coach John Mitchell has appointed lock Zoe Aldcroft as the new captain of the Red Roses squad. The move comes as a surprise to many, with the experienced Marlie Packer, who has over 100 caps for England, being replaced as skipper despite leading the team to a Grand Slam in last year’s Women’s Six Nations.
However, in a show of unity and leadership, Packer has come out in strong support of the coaching staff’s decision. The 35-year-old flanker, who was named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2023, said that promoting the 28-year-old Aldcroft to the captaincy role was “the right thing” for the squad as they build towards a home Rugby World Cup later this year.
“Mitch [John Mitchell] and I have a really good working relationship, deep down I know it is the right thing for the squad,” Packer told the BBC. “I said that to him at the time, I 100% back Zoe. She is an incredible player but also an amazing human as well.”
Marlie Packer, Former England Captain
Leadership Continuity
While no longer holding the top leadership position, Packer will remain an integral part of the team’s leadership group. Along with center Megan Jones, Packer has been named as a vice-captain to support Aldcroft. This ensures vital continuity and experience in the squad’s leadership spine.
Packer emphasized the importance of still feeling valued within the setup, saying: “I am still part of the leadership team. I am still a vice-captain so I still feel valued. If I had been completely dropped I would be thinking if my World Cup was over. It is what is right for us, for the squad going into this World Cup.”
Fierce Back Row Competition
The decision to hand the captaincy reins to a lock rather than a member of England’s vaunted back row points to the fierce competition for spots in that area of the team. With rising stars like Sadia Kabeya pushing for selection alongside established performers like Packer and Alex Matthews, Mitchell may have felt having the skipper in the second row provides greater certainty.
Packer alluded to the growing depth in the back row when explaining the captaincy change:
“If you look at my playing minutes over the last couple of seasons, I have been subbed off around the 60-70-minute mark and then Zoe has taken over as captain. I think Zoe has played every game for England since coming back from her knee injury. She was only meant to play 40-50 minutes on her first game back and played 80 minutes.”
Marlie Packer
Leading by Example
In Aldcroft, England have a player who leads through her actions on the pitch. The Gloucester-Hartpury star rarely misses a minute of gametime and has been a talismanic presence in England’s engine room. Packer lauded the lock’s leadership style:
“You want an 80-minute captain and someone who leads by example. Zoe does that and quite openly says it is not about the way she talks but the actions.”
Marlie Packer on Zoe Aldcroft
With Aldcroft at the helm and Packer still a key leader in the squad, the Red Roses will be confident of claiming their 17th Women’s Six Nations title when the tournament kicks off on March 22nd. They open their campaign at home against Italy as they build towards the ultimate goal – lifting the World Cup trophy on home soil in August.
For England fans, the message is clear – while the captain may have changed, this squad’s winning mentality and unified sense of purpose remains as strong as ever. With unwavering support from senior players like Packer, Aldcroft has been empowered to write her own chapter in the storied history of English women’s rugby.
