Zoe Stratford, captain of the England women’s rugby union team, has revealed she is expecting her first child, sharing the news in an emotional Instagram post.
The World Cup-winning skipper expressed her excitement, saying she feels “incredibly grateful,” with her baby due in September. As a result, Stratford will miss the upcoming Women’s Six Nations.
Stratford, who took over the England captaincy at the start of 2025, recently led the Red Roses to a historic World Cup victory on home soil. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded an OBE.
She becomes the third England international to announce a pregnancy since the World Cup, joining Lark Atkin-Davies and Abbie Ward.
England will kick off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland women’s rugby union team on April 11, with head coach John Mitchell set to name his squad ahead of the tournament.
