Stratford, who is currently pregnant with her first child and not playing, joined Gloucester-Hartpury in 2017 and played a key role in their rise to become the dominant force in the women’s domestic game.
“Gloucester-Hartpury will always hold a special place in my heart,” she said.
“It has given me so much over the years. I have learnt, grown, and been shaped by the experiences I’ve had along the way.
“Thank you to the amazing fans who have supported us through the tough times eight years ago, when we were a mid-table team, all the way through to becoming three-time champions. It’s been a crazy journey.
“To the amazing girls I’ve had the pleasure of playing alongside, thank you for making this chapter of my life so unbelievably memorable. I will cherish your friendship, and the memories we made both on and off the pitch, for the rest of my life.”
Stratford, 29, co-owns a coffee shop with club and country team-mate Natasha Hunt close to Kingsholm, but her husband Luke was appointed as scrum coach for Sale’s women’s side in February 2025.
In coach Dan Murphy’s first season in charge, Gloucester-Hartpury have a perfect record of 14 wins from 14 regular-season games and are essentially sure of a home semi-final already.