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Marlie Packer ends nine-year Saracens stay to join London rivals Harlequins

England flanker Marlie Packer has signed with Harlequins after leaving Saracens, where she spent nine years. The two-time World Cup winner and 119-cap Red Roses veteran aims to help Harlequins return to the Premiership Women's Rugby top four.

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Marlie Packer ends nine-year Saracens stay to join London rivals Harlequins
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Marlie Packer has joined Harlequins after nine years at Saracens, ending her stint at StoneX Stadium to move across London to the Twickenham Stoop. The England flanker, 36, confirmed the switch days after Saracens announced her departure.

Packer brings extraordinary credentials to Harlequins. A two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner, she holds 10 Guinness Women’s Six Nations titles, two WXV1 crowns, and the 2023 World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award. She has earned 119 caps for the Red Roses across a 19-year Test career, scoring 59 international tries. At the start of 2026, she was awarded an OBE in the King’s New Year’s Honours List.

Harlequins missed out on the Premiership Women’s Rugby top four this season, and Packer has made clear that reversing that is her primary objective. “This is a new chapter and one that I am really excited for — the squad is really exciting,” she said. “There are some young, talented players here and the backrow is also exceptional, with the likes of Aoife Wafer. Being able to play alongside those players is something I am really looking forward to. This can be a very competitive team, and my aim is to help Harlequins get back into the top four.”

Harlequins head coach Ross Chisholm welcomed the signing with considerable enthusiasm. “Marlie is one of the most decorated players in the game and has been one of the very best in the world for many years,” Chisholm said. “We’ve seen throughout her career how much leadership and hunger she brings to any side that she plays for. I thought Marlie was outstanding during the Six Nations and has been hugely impressive this season in the PWR as well.”

Chisholm added that Packer’s influence would extend beyond the pitch. “I have no doubt that the whole squad, including our highly rated young players, will learn a huge amount from a player of Marlie’s calibre.”

The arrival comes at a turbulent moment for Harlequins, confirmed just a week after it emerged that Ellie Kildunne would also be leaving the club. Packer’s signing represents a significant statement of intent as Harlequins look to rebuild their Premiership Women’s Rugby ambitions.

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