Red Roses Captain Marlie Packer has won the 2023 World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year Award, and has capped off an unbelievable year for the England Women’s team. Packer has captained her country to an undefeated season, including a Six Nations Grand Slam and WXV1 title.
Packer was presented with the award just moments after the Red Roses claimed the inaugural WXV1 title, in their decisive finale victory against the Black Ferns. England scored five tries in the 33-12 triumph, handing New Zealand a taste of defeat in their own back yard of Auckland. Packer was named along with six of her Red Roses teammates, in World Rugby’s Women’s Dream Team of the Year.
England’s captain praised her side’s immense performances in the post-match media, as she returns home with plenty of silverware for the trophy cabinet. Packer was elated to receive the personal award, and spoke humbly after the match, giving all credit to her outstanding Red Roses teammates.“It mean’s everything. To be fair, last season I thought was my season for it. I felt like I had a great season last year and when I wasn’t anywhere near it I was gutted. So, to then be nominated this season meant everything, and you know, I don’t get my hopes up, I just make sure that I put in a good performance out because it’s about the team.
“You never know when it’s going to be your last time in a white shirt, so you’ve got to fill it, and do your best performance. It’s topped off tonight. 99 caps (for England), winning the WXV for the first ever time that it’s a tournament and winning World Player of the Year. I don’t think tonight can be topped off any time soon.”
“It’s super impressive (seven England players in World Rugby Women’s Dream Team). I think that goes down to hard work and dedication that the girls put in to keep performing. Not just at international level, but week in, week out at club. I think the league is a phenomenal league to be in, in England, and it keeps pushing. It keeps making you a better player constantly and asking questions of you.
“The squad that we brought out here for WXV, and plus the players that were left at home, like Louis Deacon said, we are in a really good place. It’s a match day 23 that took the field today, but it’s a whole squad effort.”
WORLD RUGBY WOMENS DREAM TEAM OF THE YEAR
1. Krystal Murray (NZL) 2. Lark Atkin-Davies (ENG) 3. Sarah Bern (ENG) 4. Zoe Aldcroft (ENG) 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (NZL) 6. Alex Matthews (ENG) 7. Marlie Packer (ENG) 8. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (NZL)
9. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (FRA) 10. Ruahei Demant (NZL) 11. Abby Dow (ENG) 12. Gabrielle Vernier (FRA) 13. Amy du Plessis (NZL) 14. Ruby Tui (NZL) 15. Ellie Kildunne (ENG)