\n<\/p>\n
England’s World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford has announced she is pregnant with her first child.<\/b><\/p>\n
Announcing the news on Instagram the 29-year-old said the baby is due in September.<\/p>\n
“We are so incredibly grateful and excited,” added Stratford.<\/p>\n
The news comes seven months after she led the Red Roses to a World Cup triumph on home soil.<\/p>\n
Stratford’s news will rule her out of the Women’s Six Nations, where England will open their campaign against Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, 11 April.<\/p>\n
England are yet to confirm who will lead the side in the 2026 campaign, but Marlie Packer and Meg Jones were vice-captains during the World Cup, with Alex Matthews taking the skipper’s armband for their pool match against Australia.<\/p>\n
Red Roses head coach John Mitchell will name his Six Nations squad on Friday.<\/p>\n
Stratford was named World Player of the Year in 2021 and has also co-captained her club Gloucester-Hartpury to three back-to-back Premiership Women’s Rugby titles.<\/p>\n
Since the World Cup success, she has also opened a coffee shop with England and Gloucester team-mate Natasha Hunt.<\/a><\/p>\n Stratford becomes the third England women’s player to announce they are expecting this year, following Bristol duo Lark Atkin-Davies<\/a> and Abbie Ward.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n