March 12th 2024.
Marlie Packer, captain of the Red Roses, shares how motherhood has transformed her life both on and off the pitch. It's a journey that began in 2014, when Marlie was faced with the challenge of juggling her day job with her dream of playing rugby for England. At the time, she was working as a plumber, while her teammates were lifeguards, teachers, and even a vet. It was a struggle, but they were all determined to make it to the 2014 World Cup in Paris.
Thanks to the support of their bosses, the team was able to travel to the tournament, and the Red Roses emerged victorious. It was a proud moment for Marlie and her teammates, but little did she know that her life would change in a big way a decade later. In 2019, she was awarded a full-time contract and went on to become the captain of the Red Roses. The team's success was evident when a record-breaking crowd of 58,000 fans filled Twickenham Stadium for last year's Women's Six Nations.
Marlie fondly remembers the match dubbed 'Le Crunch' between England and France. It was the final game of the 2023 Women's Six Nations, and the home team secured a 38-33 victory. The halftime performance by the iconic Sugababes and the record-breaking crowd made it a moment of celebration that Marlie will never forget.
Reflecting on her journey through sport, Marlie recalls the challenges she faced in the early years of her rugby career. There were moments of self-doubt, periods of depression, a drink-driving case, and the devastating loss of her father in 2014. But in the last few years, she has found a renewed sense of purpose, and she credits it all to her three-year-old son, Oliver.
One of Marlie's proudest moments was walking out onto the field with Oliver as her mascot during the record-breaking game against France in April 2023. Motherhood has had a profound impact on Marlie's outlook on life, both on and off the pitch. She explains, "I never knew what unconditional love was until Oliver. Before him, I used to struggle to switch off from rugby and put a lot of pressure on myself. But now, I see my life through Oliver's eyes, and I want to make a difference in the world for his sake."
Marlie, who is now 34 years old, has already made a significant difference for women in rugby. In 2019, she was one of the first England players to receive a full-time contract. Born in Somerset, she started her international career in 2008, at a time when professional contracts were non-existent for female rugby players. She had to work as a plumber to make ends meet, which meant waking up at 6:45 am to train, napping and eating midday, and then heading to work until 9 pm.
She shares, "From my first cap to my second cap, there was a gap of three years and three months. In that time, I qualified as a level 3 plumber and got my gas certificate. It's something that I'm truly proud of, especially because I struggled with academic things in school due to my dyslexia."
While her teammates were celebrating their World Cup victory in 2014, Marlie was going through a terrible loss. Her father had passed away just 12 weeks before the start of the tournament. She was only 24 years old and had to train for a World Cup while also dealing with the financial burden of her father's funeral. It was a tough time for Marlie, and she admits that she played through the pain, both physically and emotionally.
She explains, "I was depressed, but I didn't realize it at the time. It was only when I went to see a doctor that I was able to talk about my feelings. Before then, I would hide my emotions and let them build up. That's why I'm so open about my mental health now. I want people to know that it's okay to talk about your emotions, no matter what they may be."
Marlie also shares that she felt a sense of anger towards her father, who had been absent for most of her childhood and was in and out of prison. He didn't pay child maintenance, leaving Marlie's mother, Julie, to support her and her rugby dream. But when Oliver was born, Marlie gained a new perspective on the impact of having a parent who didn't want to be there for their child. She says, "I can't understand how someone could do that to their child. But I'll always be there for Oliver, and I want him to grow up seeing how we can make a difference in the world."
Marlie's mother, Julie, is one of her biggest inspirations, and they share a close bond. They even had the opportunity to watch a Wimbledon match together from the Royal Box in 2023. As the 10th anniversary of her father's death approaches, Marlie admits that there are still moments of anger, but she is mostly saddened that he wasn't able to witness all of her accomplishments.
She concludes, "I've made mistakes in my life, and I won't shy away from them. But I've also learned from them and use my experiences to educate others. That's why I'm so open about my journey and my struggles. I want to show that no matter what challenges you face, you can come out stronger on the other side."
Marlie Packer, the captain of the Red Roses, reflects on how motherhood has profoundly changed her life both on and off the rugby pitch. Back in 2014, Marlie was faced with the challenge of balancing her day job as a plumber with her passion for rugby. She played for the English national team alongside a diverse group of individuals, including a lifeguard, teachers, and a vet. Many of them had to rely on the understanding and support of their employers in order to participate in the 2014 World Cup in Paris, where the Red Roses emerged victorious.
Fast forward a decade later, and Marlie's life is completely different. In 2019, she was awarded a full-time contract and has since become the captain of the Red Roses. Last year, a record-breaking 58,000 fans filled Twickenham Stadium for the Women's Six Nations. Marlie fondly recalls the match against France, nicknamed 'Le Crunch', where England secured a 38-33 victory. The game was made even more memorable by a half-time performance from the iconic Sugababes and a record-breaking crowd.
As she reflects on her journey through the world of rugby, Marlie is reminded of the many challenges she has faced. She struggled with self-doubt, periods of depression, and even a drink-driving incident. In 2014, she also experienced the tragic loss of her father. But in the last few years, Marlie has found a renewed sense of purpose, all thanks to her three-year-old son, Oliver.
One of Marlie's proudest moments was walking out onto the field with Oliver as the mascot for England's record-breaking game against France in April 2023. Motherhood has changed Marlie's outlook on life, both on and off the pitch. She explains, "I never knew what unconditional love was until Oliver. Before, I used to struggle to switch off from rugby and put a lot of pressure on myself. But now, my focus is on making a difference for his future."
Marlie recently volunteered at Food Bank Aid in Finchley, an organization that supports 20,000 people each week, including 5,000 children. Seeing the world through Oliver's eyes has given her a new perspective, and she is determined to make a positive impact in any way she can.
At 34 years old, Marlie has already made a huge difference for women in rugby. In 2019, she became one of the first female players to receive a full-time contract with the England team. Hailing from Somerset, Marlie began her international career in 2008, at a time when professional contracts were not available for female rugby players. She had to work as a plumber to make ends meet, which meant early morning training sessions followed by a full day of work.
Reflecting on her journey, Marlie recalls the significant gap between her first and second international games - a span of three years and three months. In that time, she completed her level 3 plumbing certification and even obtained her gas certificate. As someone who struggled with academics due to dyslexia, Marlie takes great pride in this accomplishment.
While her teammates were celebrating the World Cup victory in 2014, Marlie was dealing with a personal loss. Her father had passed away just 12 weeks before the start of the tournament. She was only 24 years old at the time and had to navigate the challenges of training for a major event while also arranging her father's funeral. It was a difficult time, and Marlie played through an elbow injury in both the semi-final and final matches.
Despite the outward success, Marlie was struggling internally. She was dealing with depression but didn't realize it until she finally sought help from a doctor. Through her own journey, she has learned the importance of being open about mental health and wants to encourage others to speak up about their emotions.
Marlie's relationship with her father was complicated, as he was often absent during her childhood and spent time in and out of prison. He also didn't contribute to her upbringing, leaving her mother, Julie, to raise Marlie and support her rugby dreams on her own. With the birth of Oliver, Marlie has gained a deeper understanding of the impact a parent's absence can have on a child. She shares, "I genuinely don't understand how you could do that to your child. There's nothing I wouldn't do for Oliver, and I'll always be there for him. That's the part I don't understand, but I'll never get to ask my dad those questions now."
As the tenth anniversary of her father's passing approaches, Marlie acknowledges the mix of emotions she feels. There is still some anger, but she is mostly saddened by the fact that he never got to see her achievements on the rugby pitch. Marlie is open about her struggles, including her mental health, and hopes to use her experiences to educate and inspire others. She believes that mistakes are a part of life, and it's essential to learn from them and educate those around us.
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