Packer bids StoneX farewell as Saracens host Exeter in PWR semi-final

Marlie Packer will make her final appearance at StoneX Stadium on Sunday when Saracens face Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women’s Rugby semi-final, with the 116-cap England flanker having confirmed a move to city rivals Harlequins ahead of next season.

The 36-year-old’s departure from the North London club brings an end to a significant chapter in her career. Saracens head coach Alex Austerberry has made changes to accommodate the occasion, with Sydney Gregson moving into midfield to partner Sophie Bridger and Jess Breach starting at full-back, completing a back three alongside Lotte Sharp and Alysha Corrigan.

Exeter arrive having beaten Sale Sharks 50-24 last weekend, and head coach Steve Salvin has made just two adjustments to that lineup. Sabrina Poulin shifts to full-back to allow Katie Buchanan a start on the right wing, while the back row remains unchanged — the league’s top tackler Maisy Allen, captain Emily Robinson and DaLeaka Menin all retain their places.

Claudia Moloney-MacDonald will be central to Exeter’s attacking ambitions after scoring six tries across her past two matches. Should Chiefs reach the final at Twickenham Stoop on 28 June, it would represent a notable upset given how the season series between these two sides has played out.

Saracens have won both meetings this campaign. A strong second-half performance secured a 24-14 victory at Sandy Park in December, before Austerberry’s side ran out emphatic 45-7 winners at StoneX Stadium in February.

Despite those defeats, Salvin believes Exeter’s late-season form gives genuine grounds for confidence. “In that first 20 minutes away at Saracens, we weren’t clinical enough,” he said. “We had opportunity — we probably had possibly even more opportunities than Saracens in terms of 22 entries, we just didn’t execute any of them.”

“In our last four games, we have been clinical when we’ve got down into those areas of the field. We’re a team that wants to play with tempo and we’re a team that’s very comfortable playing territorially, whichever one of those things gets us into the 22. I think the crucial bit for us this week is going to be making sure we execute those opportunities when they come.”

For Packer, the occasion carries personal weight regardless of the result. A victory would send Saracens to the final and give the veteran forward the send-off at StoneX that her career there deserves.