England’s vice-captain Marlie Packer was devastated after being sent off during their dominant Women’s Rugby World Cup warm-up win over Spain, where Helena Rowland scored a hat-trick.
The experienced back-rower, leading the team with regular captain Zoe Aldcroft on the bench, scored England’s second try early on. However, she was shown a red card in the 61st minute for a dangerous clearout on Spain’s full-back Clàudia Peña.
At 35, Packer now faces a possible lengthy suspension, which could disrupt England’s World Cup preparations. Head coach John Mitchell remained calm about potential squad changes, saying, “We’ll deal with whatever comes our way.”
“Obviously I’m gutted for the team,” Packer said. “My focus is entirely on them. There’s a process to follow now, and that’s what I’ll concentrate on. The way they played after my dismissal made me incredibly proud—I just apologized to them after the game.”
Mitchell acknowledged the situation: “We’ll accept the consequences. The game has high standards to protect players, and while Marlie didn’t have bad intent, we’ll take whatever punishment comes.” When asked if Packer’s potential ban would force squad changes, he replied, “We might get a couple of weeks—that’s manageable.”
A mid-range ban could be six weeks, though England may hope for a reduction given Packer’s clean disciplinary record.
Despite the red card, England delivered a strong performance, overpowering Spain in their first World Cup warm-up. Their composure and decision-making shone through in their biggest-ever win against Spain—qualities that will be crucial in the tournament.
Peña scored Spain’s only try, but they spent most of the match defending. Meanwhile, Rowland, playing on the wing for the first time, completed her hat-trick early in the second half, while prop Sarah Bern scored twice in a standout display.
After nine weeks of training, including sessions in Treviso, Spain faced England at their peak. The Red Roses looked sharper than ever, though tougher tests await—next weekend against France, followed by their World Cup opener against the USA on August 22.
As England left the pitch after their warm-up, they were cheered not by fans but by their teammates—a sign of the strong unity they’ll rely on in the challenges ahead.Spirit won’t be an issue. England initially tried spreading the ball wide but soon found more success going straight through the middle. After five minutes, Lucy Packer and Lilli Ives Campion handled the ball before Maddie Feaunati scored the opening try, setting the tone for the match. The best of England’s seven first-half tries came when Jess Breach finished off a sweeping move with a flying run down the wing.
Spain did manage to drive a maul toward England’s try-line but were stopped by solid defense. After halftime, coach Mitchell began making substitutions, refreshing the front row after 49 minutes. Hannah Botterman capped off a strong performance by scoring in the 66th minute.
Marlie Packer received a red card for a reckless challenge on Peña, but England still managed eight well-worked second-half tries, with Megan Jones completing the scoring. The vice-captain now awaits her disciplinary outcome.
