LUKE STRATFORD, the husband of Zoe Aldcroft, is most known for his work with the Leicester Tigers and the Sale Sharks as a coach.
He has experience as a forward coach for many rugby union sides, including Hartpury University.
And Stratford will certainly be in support of his wife, who captains England at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Who is Zoe Aldcroft’s husband Luke Stratford?
Luke Stratford is the forwards coach for the Leicester Tigers Women’s side having previously been Head Coach at Longlevens RFC as well as a Rugby Coach at Hartbury University.
He also has experience as forwards coach at Cirencester RFC.
The 28-year-old had previously been a hooker for Championship side Jersey Reds, a side he played through the age-grades for and where he made his senior rugby debut and Hartpury University.
When asked about how he felt joining the club, the Jersey born hooker replied “I’m very excited to join the team, we’ve got a great team of young coaches here.
“The club has a whole has such a storied history across domestic competitions and Europe and I hope we can live up to that reputation with the women’s team.
“We’ve got a young side at Tigers and I’m looking forward to aiding them in their development over the next few years”.
Who is England captain Zoe Aldcroft?
Zoe Aldcroft is a key figure for both clubs, Gloucester-Hartpury and the Red Rose, and is known for her powerful presence as a second row, also referred to as a lock.
Before joining her current club, she played for Darlington Mowden Park.
She made her debut for England in 2016 and has since become a central figure in the squad due to her consistent performance and leadership.
In her role as lock, she is responsible for winning lineouts and providing power in the scrum and at the breakdown.
The 28-year-old was appointed the captain of the Red Roses in 2025, taking over from Marlie Packer.
The rugby player was selected for this role due to her experience, leadership on the field, and the respect she commands from her teammates.
She was a standout performer in the 2020 Six Nations , and after a stellar 2021, Zoe was crowned the World Rugby 15s Player of the Year.
How did Zoe Aldcroft and her husband Luke meet?
The couple met outside a nightclub in Gloucester when she was 20 years old.
She said: “Luke was in fancy dress, dressed as a woman. He was in a long skirt and a top bought from the charity shop.”
Luke knew she was an England international and pursued her, and they eventually began to go out.
When did Zoe Aldcroft and Luke get married?
The couple got married on June 28, 2024.
The wedding took place in her hometown of Scarborough.
Aldcroft’s wedding was described as “the best day of my life” on her Instagram account.
The bride also mentioned that the groom wore shorts at the wedding because he “hates wearing trousers.”
What does Luke Stratford do for a living?
From February 2025, the 30-year-old is the Sale Sharks Women’s Scrum Coach.
He has previously been Head Coach at Longlevens RFC as well as a Rugby Coach at Hartpury University before joining the Tigers in 2023.
The Jersey-born coach is a former hooker. In his playing career, he played at age grades and played for the first team at the former Championship side Jersey Reds before spending eight years at Hartpury.
When is the Women’s Rugby World Cup?
The Women’s Rugby World Cup will run from Friday, August 22nd to September 27th in England.
Zoe captains the host side in their first match against the USA.
