England Rugby Captain Aldcroft Misses Rest of World Cup Pool Stage with Knee Injury

England's captain Zoe Aldcroft will miss the remainder of the Women's Rugby World Cup pool stage due to a knee injury sustained in their opening match against the USA. Marlie Packer will step in as captain for the upcoming matches against Samoa and Australia, marking her first appearance since a suspension earlier this month. The England squad faces additional challenges with key players Emily Scarratt sidelined by a shoulder nerve issue and Holly Aitchison recovering from an ankle injury, though Aitchison is expected to return soon. Helena Rowland, who has overcome her own ankle problem, will start at fly-half against Samoa, providing valuable versatility to the team. Packer, Megan Jones, and Aldcroft have formed a supportive leadership group, maintaining team cohesion despite the setbacks. Coach John Mitchell has made multiple changes to the starting lineup to manage player fitness and build depth ahead of the next stages of the tournament.