It’s been a considerable duration of approximately eight years since Meg Jones participated in a World Cup competition. However, with the England 2025 event commencing in less than a month, and with Jones having secured a spot on the English roster, the anticipation is nearing its end.
Jones was responsible for the initial try scored by England during the Ireland 2017 World Cup and held a starting position in the final match against New Zealand as a center. Remarkably, that evening in Belfast, which concluded with England’s defeat at 41-32, marked her most recent experience in World Cup play.
In 2022, when the 2021 World Cup, which had been postponed due to COVID-19, eventually took place, Jones was in the process of rejoining the 15s format after committing her full attention to England’s 7s initiative beginning in 2018. Consequently, she was not chosen for the team.
‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
Currently, at the age of 28, she holds a firm position within the team. She also serves as one of John Mitchell’s vice-captains and is diligently counting down the days until England’s initial tournament match against the USA, set to occur at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland.
“I am incredibly thrilled, as it represents the pinnacle of one’s career, overshadowing all other significant tournaments,” Jones expressed. “It was a persistent aspiration of mine to return and make a significant impact once again in a World Cup setting.”
“It has been eight years since my previous World Cup participation. I was 20 years old then, somewhat naive at that stage. Now, I have a clearer understanding of the proceedings and am determined to solidify my role within the team.
“A home World Cup is a rare occurrence, making this opportunity truly exceptional. I simply wish to derive significant enjoyment from it.”
It’s not as if Jones was simply waiting passively for the England coach to contact her. In the time since her last appearance on a World Cup pitch, she engaged in sevens competitions at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, additionally securing a bronze medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Jones has also changed clubs on three separate occasions, moving first from Bristol Bears to Wasps, then to Leicester Tigers, and is now situated back in west London with Trailfinders Women.
Although Jones stands out as one of the more expressive players and is quick to exhibit her unique personality, such as sporting a Chloe Kelly jersey during training the day subsequent to the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 victory, her resolute attitude as a player can be linked back to her formative years in Cardiff, where she participated in boys’ teams.
Later, she departed from her home at the age of 16 to pursue her studies and play rugby across the border at Hartpury College, an established institution recognized for nurturing future international players, where she encountered a higher degree of competition. It was during her time studying in Gloucestershire that she chose to represent England, the nationality of her mother, rather than Wales.
Jones comfortably navigates her dual identity as representative of both Welsh and English heritage. Despite past endeavors to adopt a more English demeanor, “I once attempted to emulate a posh accent, which likely lasted only around 30 seconds,” she now reaps the benefits of her decisions.
This background provides Jones with a foundational perspective that continues to drive her pursuit of greater achievements, all while ensuring that she fully appreciates each present moment.
“My father is Welsh, my mother is English, and both play a vital role in my journey and will continue to do so,” Jones remarked. “I have increasingly embraced being authentically myself.”
“We tend to become somewhat tense during these campaigns due to their significant importance and our aspiration to secure the World Cup.”
“This self-imposed pressure can be intense, but if we can simply enjoy our work, have fun, alleviate as much pressure as possible, and regard it as a game played within four white lines, our task becomes considerably easier.”
“One of my most significant aspirations is to conclude the campaign and be able to say, ‘I relished every moment of it.’ The camaraderie I experienced was exceptional. We enjoyed our time, worked diligently together, and collectively strived to achieve our shared objective.”
Currently, her objective is to secure the starting position as outside center, a role she has held throughout recent campaigns. Should she not be chosen, she intends to fully support whoever Mitchell selects.
While the entire squad maintains a highly diplomatic stance and avoids making assumptions regarding their place within the team, it would be unexpected if Jones were not to wear the number 13 jersey for the pivotal matches. Since Mitchell assumed the role of England coach in October 2023, Jones has started in eight of the 10 Red Roses’ Six Nations matches, consistently wearing the 13 shirt.
Nonetheless, Mitchell implemented more experimentation with his lineups as the Red Roses achieved another Six Nations Grand Slam this year. Certain alterations were necessary, while others were strategic choices, but these changes have served to provide Mitchell with difficult decisions to make when selecting his team.
“As one enters a World Cup, it is impossible to foresee the extent to which one will need to depend on the team’s depth,” Jones noted. “It is an extended period, and we must earn our place each week. Players will be pushing their physical limits, and the outcomes are inherently uncertain.”
“Hopefully, all will proceed smoothly, but we now have those connections to fall back on and have gained minutes of playing time with various combinations.”
“For each game, we will have to earn our position through our performance. We are fully cognizant of this and are aware that no team will willingly surrender. It is vital to remember this, and we will aim to prevail in each individual battle as it arises, approaching each with full force.”
