Packer Free To Play England's World Cup Opener

Flanker Marlie Packer will not miss nan commencement of England's location Women's Rugby World Cup aft she was fixed a one-match prohibition for a reddish paper against Spain connected Saturday.

The 35-year-old was sent disconnected successful nan Red Roses' 97-7 World Cup warm-up win successful Leicester for a clumsy clearout that caught nan limb of full-back Claudia Pena.

The prohibition rules Packer retired of England's last warm-up distant to France connected Saturday, earlier their World Cup opener against nan United States successful Sunderland connected 22 August.

The triumph complete Spain was Packer's first crippled arsenic skipper since being replaced successful nan domiciled by Zoe Aldcroft successful January.

She captained nan Red Roses to back-to-back Six Nations Grand Slams successful 2023 and 2024 and is 1 of caput coach John Mitchell's vice-captains.

Mitchell's broadside are connected a 26-game winning tally and are favourites to go world champions, pinch their past conclusion coming successful nan Word Cup last against New Zealand successful 2022.

Packer, who started England's World Cup last triumph successful 2014, still faces reliable title to commencement nan World Cup opener successful nan backmost row.

Maddie Feaunati, 23, started alternatively of Packer for the Six Nations Grand Slam decider against France successful April, while Sadia Kabeya, 23, has besides played up of her.