Harlequins and England scrum-half Lucy Packer hopes the surge from the Red Roses’ World Cup victory can power Big Game 17 towards another record-breaking crowd.
Quins will face Bristol Bears in round eight of the PWR season as part of a double-header alongside the men’s fixture at Allianz Stadium on 20 December.
The match marks the return of women’s rugby to the home of English rugby union following the hosts’ World Cup final win over Canada in late September, and the 25-year-old is relishing the occasion.
Packer said: “I’m excited for it, but a little bit nervous as well.
“Playing at such an amazing stadium is always a real privilege and the club always puts on an amazing occasion for the Big Game.
“Leading up to Christmas there’ll be that excitement around going home and seeing families, but luckily the Big Game is before Christmas this year, so we’ll solely focus on that fixture and then we’ll get to enjoy Christmas afterwards.”
Harlequins are aiming for another world-record attendance at a women’s club game as they aim to surpass last year’s 18,055 at Big Game 16, and the World Cup winner acknowledged the recent viewership rise in the PWR.
She said: “The main thing is that we’re seeing more fans in stadiums across the club.
“Internationally that’s been growing and it’s great to see that it’s now filtering down to the clubs, and we’re hoping that that will happen at the Big Game as well.
“The fans we get down are super amazing, they always bring the noise and to have them at Twickenham in the Big Game would be amazing too.”
The England international has featured in every Big Game since the double-header was introduced in 2019, scoring a try against Exeter Chiefs in her third outing in 2022.
However, Packer highlighted her side’s 47-26 friendly win over Irish province Leinster in the first Big Game as her favourite memory.
She said: “That was the first time I’d experienced such a big occasion and my memories from that will stay with me forever.”
Quins currently sit seventh in the PWR with eight points after four games, just above the Bears who are three points behind with a game in hand.
They have fallen to defeat three times against play-off contending Exeter Chiefs, Saracens and two-time defending champions Gloucester-Hartpury, including a 47-10 loss at StoneX Stadium following a second-half collapse against London rivals Sarries.
The Twickenham squad has a bye week before travelling to rock-bottom Leicester Tigers ahead of Big Game 17.
Packer added: “We’ve had a bit of a tough start to the season and we’re hoping to have a good run of games leading up to the Big Game.”
Featured Image: Oliver Whitemore
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