England's World Cup-winning Captain Stratford Announces Pregnancy

England's World Cup-winning skipper Zoe Stratford has announced she is pregnant pinch her first child.

Announcing nan news connected Instagram nan 29-year-old said nan babe is owed successful September.

"We are truthful incredibly grateful and excited," added Stratford.

The news comes 7 months aft she led nan Red Roses to a World Cup triumph connected location soil.

Stratford's news will norm her retired of nan Women's Six Nations, wherever England will unfastened their run against Ireland astatine Allianz Stadium, Twickenham connected Saturday, 11 April.

England are yet to corroborate who will lead nan broadside successful nan 2026 campaign, but Marlie Packer and Meg Jones were vice-captains during nan World Cup, pinch Alex Matthews taking nan skipper's armband for their excavation lucifer against Australia.

Red Roses caput coach John Mitchell will sanction his Six Nations squad connected Friday.

Stratford was named World Player of nan Year successful 2021 and has besides co-captained her nine Gloucester-Hartpury to 3 back-to-back Premiership Women's Rugby titles.

Since nan World Cup success, she has besides opened a java shop pinch England and Gloucester team-mate Natasha Hunt.

Stratford becomes nan 3rd England women's subordinate to denote they are expecting this year, pursuing Bristol duo Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward.