England captain Marlie Packer promises to continue Sarah Hunter’s Red Roses legacy | Rugby Union News

England host Italy at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday 2 April within the second leg of the Ladies’s Six Nations Event; Scotland are in motion subsequent Saturday for the second spherical of the Championship, internet hosting Wales on the Dam Well being Stadium in Edinburgh

Marlie Packer has vowed to hold on Sarah Hunter’s English legacy after she retires.

Hunter performed the final sport of her profession on Saturday in England’s dominating 58-7 win over Scotland within the Ladies’s Six Nations Championship and left the pitch after 58 minutes to a loud ovation from her teammates, coaches and household within the stands.

She retires with 141 caps to her identify, having made her Six Nations debut in 2007, and is leaving the game aged 37 after a extremely embellished 16-year profession.

After Hunter left the sphere, Packer took over the function of sole captain, scoring a strive hat-trick from the well-known England rolling maul in a participant of the match efficiency, and, after the sport, she insisted that her focus was now on persevering with the legacy left by his now former teammate.

“It is a model new lady group on this group, we obtained collectively three weeks in the past and obtained again to fundamentals,” Packer mentioned.

“And what we talked about in these three weeks, we put that efficiency on the pitch.

“Bravo to Sarah Hunter, 141 caps, she got here out and did a hell of a efficiency.

“However for me, I am tremendous pleased with what they’ve achieved. Now we have a time off on Monday after which we’ll rebuild, come again to camp and go once more.

Hunter was held up by her teammates after her emotional remaining sport

“It is a actually thrilling time, it is an thrilling time for girls’s sport, however particularly for girls’s rugby.

“I’m actually privileged and proud to be part of this and the legacy that Sarah Hunter has left behind, all of us wish to stick with it with what she has performed.”

Not solely did Packer reward the impression Hunter has had on the game of rugby union as a complete, but in addition on her personal worldwide profession, of which she has been an element all through.

Packer scored a fast strive hat-trick in opposition to Scotland from England’s rolling maul

“I’ll miss her immensely,” she added.

“She’s been in my entire rugby journey with England and she or he’s not simply an unbelievable rugby participant, however an unbelievable human.

“She put everybody earlier than herself. This rose that she wears, due to her, she places it first on a regular basis.”

England’s match continues as they host Italy at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday April 2 (kick-off 3pm), within the second leg of the Ladies’s Six Nations Event.