By saracensfan62
August 16 2026

Ah, these season is one of goodbyes to some legends in our women’s squad. It’s never nice to say farewell and good luck, but it must be done unfortunately. We've reached the point where its fair to post a womens squad leavers article, and this year it's quite an emotional one. Having won the PWR though, we can at least say our leavers have gone on a high. I was going to do another piece separately for the joiners, but as far as I'm aware apart from maybe some academy players being promoted, we haven't signed anybody so will leave that for either further down the line or for a separate thread to be made about it.

Marlie Packer OBE

Not really sure where to start with this one, but i will try. There are players who constitute a rugby club and then there are players who define one. Marlie Packer defines all of what is good about Saracens. Work ethic, teamwork and resilience. I have NEVER seen a rugby player who would bleed Saracens as much as Marlie, maybe apart from Alex Goode or potentially Jackson Wray. Nonetheless, Marlie leaves us after 9 happy years to take up an opportunity with Harlequins. If I had it my way, she wouldn’t be leaving at all but how cheeky, deserting us for Quins? I joke of course. Her fiancée, a certain Rosie Galligan is also heading back to Harlequins for her 3^rd (I think?) spell there so this move can be forgiven although im gutted about it.

Born in Yeovil, Somerset, Packer began playing rugby at just five years old for local club Ivel Barbarians, where she spent 13 years before moving to Bath, then Bristol, then Wasps before then coming to Allianz Park as our ground was then called to join us. She was already an established international by then having played a part in the England squad winning the world cup 12 years ago, but what she contributed to Saracens makes her unique in so many ways and different to what most other players ever have or will.

In her very first season at Saracens, Packer led the league in tries, earning the Saracens Coaches' Player of the Season award. Back-to-back titles followed, and when the competition evolved into the PWR era, Packer remained the heartbeat of everything Saracens did, co-captaining the side, setting the standard at the breakdown, and delivering when it mattered most.

Internationally, her Saracens years ran parallel to the peak of her England career. While representing the Women in Black, Packer captained England for the first time, lifted the Rugby World Cup 2x. The 36-year-old boasts many tests caps for England and is the Red Roses' all-time top try-scorer among forwards.

The send-off she received in the 2025-26 season was fitting for a player of her stature. In the PWR Final against Trailfinders, Packer scored a brace of tries in what was her final game in the black and red jersey, plus she was awarded a perfect 10/10 player rating, described as "otherworldly stuff from one of Sarries' greatest names." Even a yellow card in the 63rd minute couldn't diminish what had been a fitting and barnstorming end to a career nobody will forget.

Director of Rugby Alex Austerberry paid the most eloquent tribute of all: "For much of the last decade, Marlie has been a captain, leader, trailblazer and advocate for the women's game. Quite simply, she has embodied what it means to be a Saracen."

She heads to Harlequins now poignantly, the very club she helped Sarries to defeat in that first title win back in 2018. Whatever she does next, Marlie Packer leaves Saracens as their greatest ever player. That is not a claim made lightly. It is simply the truth.

Rosie Galligan

Some players leave and come back. Fewer leave, come back, and contribute just as meaningfully the second time around. Rosie Galligan has definitely been one of those rare players. Rosie leaves North London after three years in her second spell with us having rejoined from quins in 2023. In her first spell at sarries, she was no stranger silverware either!

Born in Finchley in 1998, Galligan grew up playing for Aylesford Bulls before joining Saracens in 2016. Her early career was blighted by adversity that would have ended lesser athletes. Meningitis in September 2019, followed by a serious injury in January 2020 with broken bones and torn ligaments, this all meant her second England cap didn't come until the 2022 Six Nations, more than two years after her debut.

The comeback she staged was extraordinary. During her second stint at Saracens, she surpassed 50 appearances for the club and produced a series of outstanding performances that helped earn selection for England's Rugby World Cup winning squad in 2025.  Beyond rugby, Galligan has carried her platform with purpose. She is an ambassador for Meningitis Now and is using her own experience with bacterial meningitis to inspire others far beyond the rugby community, helping raise much awareness around a deadly disease.

Rosie now embarks on an exciting new chapter as she prepares for motherhood, having announced her pregnancy with fiancée and Saracens co-captain Marlie Packer earlier this year. They join Harlequins together, not sure whether this makes it better or even more bittersweet that they are leaving

As Austerberry put it: "Rosie has made a significant contribution during her second spell at the club, both on and off the field. We wish her well with the next chapter." A Saracen twice over, and twice as beloved for it. Thank you, Rosie.

Beth Blacklock

Beth Blacklock made the move across London ahead of the 2023-24 season, she was already known to be a talented centre with a booming boot and eye for a pass. She also possessed that rare combination of athletic versatility, intellectual sharpness and an infectious personality that made her a popular figure in and about the StoneX and with the team.

Originally from Mersea isle in Essex, Blacklock discovered a passion for rugby while at Durham University (few better places to play than Durham!) where she captained the first team for two consecutive years, before graduating and joining DMP Sharks/Ripon Rugby club. In 2022 she made the move to Quins and then of course us. Beth qualified to represent Scotland through her mother, made her international debut shortly before joining the Women in Black for the Guinness Women's Six Nations and went on to earn  numerous caps.

During her time at StoneX Stadium, Blacklock made 28 appearances and played her part in one of the most successful periods in the club's recent history, helping Saracens secure a league and cup double during the 2025-26 campaign. Her ability to cover both centre and fly-half gave Alex Austerberry genuine tactical flexibility, and her performances earned her recognition not just at club level but a recall to the national squad she thoroughly deserved.

Now Beth is relocating over to France, having signed with newly promoted Stade Rochelais in the Élite 1 Féminine. What a fabulous opportunity and chance to experience a new culture and way of doing things (inc rugby!). For her it seems the connection is personal as well as professional. Blacklock revealed that her father, Danny, also lived and played rugby in La Rochelle. Beth said and I quote: "I loved my time at Saracens and the opportunities the club gave me, but I've always wanted to use rugby as a chance to travel and experience playing in France. I'm excited to play in the city where my dad lived and played, and I'm looking forward to this next chapter."

Good luck Beth, La Rochelle are lucky to have you!

Deborah Wills

Deborah Wills' story at Saracens is pretty remarkable I might say. All in the space of 1 career, she’s ticked off a Commonwealth Games bronze medal, an Olympic appearance and a career that has taken her from Bristol to Worcester to Tokyo and back to NW4 and the wolfpack. Deborah began her career in Bristol before moving to Saracens at the age of 21, where, after impressing in a Sarries shirt, she was selected for the England Sevens programme.

In 2021 Deborah became an Olympian, representing Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics. During her time on the circuit, she won a bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 so pretty impressive to say the least.

She returned to Saracens ahead of the 2025-26 campaign from Bristol Bears, making her first appearance in black and red for a number of years — a homecoming that felt entirely right. Wills made eight appearances during the season and scored a fabulous solo try against Sale. Unfortunately, she has had an injury disrupted season but it is a great credit to her that she worked tirelessly to return on every occasion and consistently put herself in contention for being selected, especially when the backline is already absolutely stacked with the likes of Lotte Sharp, Alysha Corrigan and Jess Express (aka Jess Breach).

She departs as a PWR champion which is the perfect note to close this chapter. Now 35 years old, Wills has signed for Exeter Chiefs where, with characteristic spirit, she has declared she is going there to hunt down the PWR title. You wouldn't bet against her given what Exeter almost accomplished this season… Good luck Deborah and thank you.

All that’s left to say is a heartfelt thank you to all our leavers, and good luck! You will all be greatly missed.