Marlie Packer signs with Harlequins after Saracens drop
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- Marlie Packer announced she will leave Saracens after the club offered no new contract and will join Harlequins Women for the next season.
- Marlie Packer had been considering retirement at the end of the 2025‑26 campaign but decided to continue after a probing conversation with England head coach John Mitchell.
- Marlie Packer cited Harlequins’ “world‑class” back‑row, featuring Alex Calendar and Aoife Wafer, as a key factor in her move and sees it as a pathway to the 2027 British and Irish Lions.
- Marlie Packer highlighted personal logistics—her son Oliver, a mortgage and partner Rosie Galligan’s pregnancy—as influencing her decision to join a club only 20 minutes from home.
- Ross Chisholm said he was impressed by Packer’s training attitude and impact at the Red Roses and believed she would be a good fit for Harlequins.
- Marlie Packer aims to help Harlequins return to the top four and win the Premiership Women’s Rugby championship while pursuing Lions selection.
- Marlie Packer hopes to finish her Saracens tenure on a high, hoping to win a PWR title before the club’s semi‑final with Exeter Chiefs.
Why it matters: Harlequins gain a seasoned England flanker and World Cup champion, bolstering their back‑row depth and championship push, while Saracens lose a veteran leader after refusing a new contract. Packer’s move also preserves her Lions ambitions and aligns with her family logistics.
