Sale Sharks Women announce signing of World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford from defending Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury

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Zoe Stratford will leave defending Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury at the end of the season having been announced as Sale Sharks' latest eye-catching addition.

Stratford admits Gloucester-Hartpury aim to go unbeaten in PWR

Video credit: TNT Sports

Sale Sharks have confirmed that the World Cup-winning captain will make the move to Heywood Stadium later this year.

"Sale Sharks Women have agreed a deal to sign England’s World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford OBE from the start of the 2026/27 Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season," a statement read on their official website.

"Zoe has won 69 Test caps since making her England debut in 2016 and led the team to glory in September’s final against Canada at a sold-out Allianz Stadium.

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"The 29-year-old was named World Player of the Year in 2021 and has also co-captained Gloucester-Hartpury to three back-to-back PWR titles."

Stratford signed for Gloucester-Hartpury from DMP Sharks in 2018 and has played a vital role in their rise to the dominant side in Premiership Women's Rugby.

The Cherry and Whites are expected to secure a fourth successive title having won all 14 games to date.

Stratford's aim is to go the season unbeaten

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And Stratford previously revealed to TNT Sports that the aim is go unbeaten this season.

"It’s been good, unbeaten so far this season, the girls are on an absolute roll," she told David Flatman back in March.

"That's the big aim for this season, we’ve not done it yet, to go unbeaten.

"We’ve had to up our goals, we’ve won it for three years now, to have another level to go to, that’s how we are as a club and how we want to perform.

"To be able to say ‘yes, we do want to go unbeaten for the rest of the season’ is the next stage of our development and something we haven't done yet."

'I want to bring my child up as a northerner'

Stratford, who is expecting her first child in September, will join up with husband Luke, who acts as Sale's women's scrum coach. And she says her spouse has been impressed by the vision of co-owner Michelle Orange.

"I feel ready to take the next step in my career and, being pregnant, I really want to bring my child up as a northerner," Stratford said following confirmation of the move.

"I haven’t played competitive rugby in the north since I was 15 or 16, and so coming back and playing up in the north is something that I’m super passionate about.

"Luke absolutely loves it at Sale. He loves the whole vibe of the club, he loves Michelle’s ethos around the place, how much she drives the standards, and how passionate she is about the women’s side especially.

"It’s been brilliant to see how much investment Sale have put into the women’s team and it’s something I can’t wait to be a part of.

"I can see in that Sale team that they want to play for each other and you can tell they have a good time off the pitch as well. They have a real camaraderie and it’s exciting to join a club that holds that in such a high regard.

"I’ve enjoyed success at Gloucester and with England and hopefully I can bring that experience of winning and help build that belief into the team because I’ve got no doubt we can achieve big things."

Tatyana Heard signed for Sale Sharks last week

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Stratford follows in the footsteps of England team-mate Tatyana Heard, who agreed to swap Gloucester-Hartpury for Sale Sharks Women last week.

Gloucester-Hartpury play their penultimate game of the season on Friday when they face Trailfinders Women, where a victory will secure their latest title.

They then see out the 2025/26 campaign with a game against Bristol Bears as they seek to end the season with a 100% record.

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