Multi-tasking Mum Marlie
England flanker Marlie Packer was back training with Saracens on the second of her two maternity weeks’ leave.
Having recovered from an operation after an ankle injury, she needed to get back out on the pitch, with her partner Tasha a huge supporter of her outstanding rugby career.
Their son Oliver arrived last September into a world beset by a global pandemic.
“It was the most amazing day ever,” says Marlie. “He was born around 4am and we went home at 1pm, a quick turnaround that we both wanted as otherwise I would have had to leave. The midwives at the St Helier birthing centre were just great but in these challenging times the important thing is keeping everyone safe.”
Lockdown has meant that, as with many families, time could be spent together but back in England camp, Marlie has discovered parenthood brings changes.
“Before I go to training these days I will quickly do the washing so that Tash doesn’t have to and when I get home from camp at 2pm I will look after Oliver so that Tash can have some time to herself. My day doesn’t stop until he’s in bed. Gone are the days when I could come back and have a long, hot bath!”
Taken along aged five by family friends, Pauline and Matt, to Ivel Barbarians, now Yeovil RFC, Marlie was expected to watch the minis training. Her mum had dressed her in jeans and a red frilly top. Both items were binned after Marlie threw herself into training with the kind of passion that has been her trademark ever since.
She has played for England 74 times, won a World Cup, reached another world final and helped secure four Six Nations Grand Slams, as well as representing England in sevens.
“I’m so grateful to be playing rugby and to those people who first took me along. The last time I played for England they came to watch and everyone at Yeovil is so supportive,” says Marlie.
Before becoming a professional rugby player, Marlie was a Level 3 qualified plumber with a gas certificate. Working in a “very male dominated environment” she was determined to show “that females can achieve what they want to and be just as good as the men.”
A game for all
In this LGBT+ History Month, what has been Marlie’s experience of life in a rugby environment?
“I don’t scream and shout about being gay but I am open and honest about being in a relationship,” she says.
“My team mates know that I’ve had a baby that my partner has carried. In the environment I’m in it’s entirely acceptable. People don’t judge you, that’s a big part of what I love about rugby. It is a game for all, front row, wingers, different characters, different backgrounds. That’s what makes it a unique sport. You come together knowing everyone will put their body on the line for you. It is very inclusive and I could always be myself.
“At school I didn’t express myself the best but at rugby I could be 100% me, which helped me to become one of the best England players. I didn’t aspire to play for my country, it just happened, but when it did I knew I wanted to play for England as many times as I possibly could.
“It has given me the opportunity to travel the world, to make friends across the world and now everything has fallen into place. I want to play in the next World Cup and beyond and Tasha is tremendously supportive. A month and a half after Oliver was due, there was to have been an England tour to Australia which was cancelled due to Covid. For the World Cup we were planning for Tasha, Oliver and my mum to come to New Zealand.
“At the moment we don’t know what will happen beyond the Six Nations in April. We have to take it as it comes, that’s the challenge. Something I’ve learned since we’ve had Oliver is that you have to take every day as it comes, you can make plans, read all the books but everything changes.
“Right now I’ll train as hard as I can, make sure I’m on the plane to the world tournament and know that I’ll have the full support of Tash, Oliver and the family.”
