Marlie Packer sets sights on Rugby World Cup glory with England

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MARLIE Packer has set her sights on World Cup glory this summer as competition for places in England’s final squad heats up.

The Yeovil-born flanker is among 32 hopefuls trying to catch the eye of England coaches during an intense training camp ahead of next month’s tournament.

Six of the contingent will miss out on the final squad that jet out to France – meaning competition is fierce in training.

Former Ivel Barbarians powerhouse Packer, who impressed during England’s Six Nations campaign earlier this year, admitted everyone is desperate to receive the call-up and pull on the red rose.

She said: “It’s exciting but also a nervous time with everyone eager to learn if they have done enough to be selected.

“As a back row player it’s especially nerve-wracking as we have so many world class players all striving for the same positions. It’s a very competitive environment to train in.

“To play 15-a-side rugby at the World Cup was my childhood dream but if I’m not selected then I know there will be 26 girls there who will give everything to win.

“There is a real intensity to training. We’re doing full contact sessions, smashing into each other and giving everything to impress the coaches.

“It would be amazing to go to a World Cup, especially this year in France, as the love for rugby over there is unbelievable. There’s always massive crowds and they’re really passionate – it would be brilliant to be part of that.”

The former Yeovil College and Buckler’s Mead Academy student started out as solely a Sevens player but has also enjoyed a meteoric rise in the traditional 15-a-side game during the 18 months.

Last summer Packer was part of the England squad that travelled to Moscow, Russia, to take part in the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

However, things did not go to plan for the flanker with England finishing sixth in the World Cup and suffering a painful series whitewash.

Ahead of the expected squad announcement on Tuesday, Packer believes last summer’s World Cup Sevens experience will benefit her ahead of next month’s tournament.

She said: “In Moscow the team didn’t really perform as well as we wanted to but that was a massive learning curve for me personally and I can take that experience forward.

“As a team we’re not overdoing it in training, I’d say we are simmering at the minute and will be ready to put the pedal down as soon as the tournament gets underway.

“We’ve got two warm-up games against USA which will be a good chance to try out a few things that we’ve been working on in training.

“With the women’s World Cup this summer and then England hosting the men’s World Cup next year it’s a very exciting time for rugby in this country.”

Packer is hoping for a fairytale end to the season at the World Cup after enduring a frustrating first season at Wasps Ladies.

She said: “It’s been a tough first season for me at Wasps and I picked up quite a few injuries which was very frustrating being at a new club.

“However, since then I came back and played in the Six Nations which was fantastic and I thought I did ok.

“Since then I’ve also played Sevens in Amsterdam and China, so I’m actually coming into this summer having played quite a lot of rugby.

“It’s been a difficult time as my father passed away recently, but I’ve been taking one day at a time and am now totally focused on that one goal – playing in the World Cup.”

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Marlie Packer sets sights on Rugby World Cup glory with England