Perry, Lund and Blackburn to retire as Gloucester Hartpury era ends for trio

Ellena Perry, Rachel Lund, and Bianca Blackburn will all retire from rugby at the conclusion of the 2025/26 Premiership Women’s Rugby season, Gloucester Hartpury have confirmed, bringing an end to a combined era of experience and silverware at the club.

Perry, 29, departs with four PWR titles to her name — two Premier 15s and two PWR crowns — earned across spells with Gloucester Hartpury and Saracens. The prop represented England on 11 occasions before switching international allegiances in 2025, qualifying for Ireland through a maternal grandfather. Her return to Test rugby was all the more remarkable given she had taken a career break to give birth to her son, Bert, in 2022.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand recruited Perry ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, and she went on to start every match of Ireland’s third-place finish in the 2026 Guinness Women’s Six Nations. Her nine Ireland caps include a final appearance against Scotland in a 54-5 victory in front of a record crowd of 31,294 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

“Making the decision to retire hasn’t been easy because rugby has been such a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Perry said. “Joining Gloucester Hartpury in 2019 was one of the best decisions I ever made. To be part of this club’s journey and to help create the success we’ve enjoyed together is something I will always be incredibly proud of.”

Perry also paid tribute to the environment her son has grown up in at the club. “One of the most special parts of my time at the club has been seeing how everyone has embraced my son, Bert,” she said. “Watching him grow up around such incredible role models has meant the world to me and my family.”

Lund, a nine-year servant of the club, reflected on a 25-year playing career as she prepares to sign off. “For a long time, I have known that when the day came to play my final rugby game, I wanted it to be in a Gloucester shirt,” she said. “It has been an honour and a privilege to call Gloucester Hartpury my home.”

Blackburn, who earned 19 caps for England at scrum-half, will move into a career with the police after hanging up her boots. “Rugby has shaped so much of who I am,” she said. “Gloucester Hartpury will always be a special place to me, and I’ll forever be proud to have been part of the Circus.”