Meg Jones: Carrying Family Spirit Into England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Dream
Meg Jones breezes through the Allianz Stadium’s hospitality suites like a human firework, her smile bright against the backdrop of a dozen flashing cameras. The England Centre, and now vice-captain of the Red Roses, pairs infectious energy with the quiet strength that defines her team as they gear up for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup—England’s first time hosting in 15 years.
The 28-year-old has always played for fun, spinning off defenders as if the field were a dance floor. But the 2025 tournament feels sharper and deeper. For the first time at a big competition, the match tickets will be for the crowd, not for the parents. Her father, Simon, who wore the same battered England jersey for every Saturday match, died of lung cancer in 2024. Her mother, Paula, fought her own battle and passed just four months later.
“I can’t be with them in person anymore,” Jones said. “But our connection is still here in my heart. That’s a powerful feeling too. They always wanted me to love rugby, to keep smiling, and to flow with whatever waves life brings my way.”
A Personal Journey of Grief and Resilience
Under Jones’ cheerful talk and constant laughter is a heart still mending. Losing both parents so close to each other felt like losing her own footing. She calls it the toughest chapter she has ever faced.
“One big part of grief is that it comes when you least expect it,” she said. “Some days I picture them at home, just going about ordinary life. Other times, I feel it the hardest when I mention childhood things or particular memories.”
Her mates with Trailfinders Women and the England squad have been the lifeline she needed. “Rugby gave me the space to turn to others,” she admitted. “The tough part is letting people see the cracks when you’ve been told to act tough.”
The Red Roses World Cup Mission
Jones is in a squad that everyone believes can win. England kick off Pool A against the USA at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland on Friday, August 22. After that, they take on Samoa in Northampton and Australia in Brighton. If the results fall their way, Bristol’s Ashton Gate will host the knock-out matches, with the dream of the final at Twickenham on September 27.
The Red Roses come into this World Cup riding a 26-game unbeaten streak, so a lot of people already see them as favorites. Coach Jones knows that kind of record can feel heavy, but he sees it as a chance. “We’ve got a target on our back, but we’ll wear it with pride. Enjoy every minute. Our training’s been fierce, our rugby’s been sharp, so we’ll trust that and have a blast.”
The scene feels different from the last World Cup held in England back in 2010. Then, every pool match happened at Guildford’s Surrey Sports Park, and semifinal and final days were at the Twickenham Stoop. Now, every ticket is a small priceless. “Some of the girls coming in now have played only in front of big crowds and think it’s how it’s always been. But it’s been rising every single season because of the women who fought earlier, and the RFU pushing the game higher.”
Emily Scarratt, the only Rose who wore the badge back in 2010, is now on her fifth World Cup, sharing the kind of wisdom only a veteran can. “I always remind the rookies: the pressure’s not new. Use it to spark your fire.”
Jones knows the bright lights can bring both praise and sharp knives. “Fair or unfair, the gaze is everywhere. Our job is to keep our heads steady, listen to the coaches, and trust our game. Critique can make you sharper if you let it, so we’ll let it.”
“You’re never going to please everyone. Negative comments will always come,” she said. “We welcome the criticism, because it helps us grow. But once it gets personal, that’s where it hurts.”
Still, she stays locked on the challenge ahead. Support from partner and GB Sevens teammate Celia Quansah, along with encouragement from her brother and sister, will carry her through every match. And deep down, she feels her parents right beside her.
“I think they’d both be really proud,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I wear them on my sleeve and fight for them every time I step on the field, giving it my all like I always have.”
A Nation’s Hope
As England aim for their first World Cup crown since 2014, Meg Jones’ journey is one of grit, courage, and family love on the world’s biggest stage. Every tackle, every pass, every try will be for her country and for the two people who helped her get here.
If England are to carry the trophy at Twickenham, the victory will come from more than smart tactics and sweat on the training ground. It will rise from the deep connection shared by players like Jones and their families, who lift their spirits from just outside the white lines.