Megan Jones (rugby union) explained

Birth Date:23 October 1996
Birth Place:Cardiff, Wales
Height:160 cm
Weight:67 kg
Ru Position:Fly-half Centre
Years1:–2020
Years2:2020–2023
Clubs2:Wasps Ladies
Years3:2023-
Clubs3:Leicester Tigers
Repyears1:2015–
Repteam1:England
Repcaps1:16
Reppoints1:19
Ru Sevensnationalyears1:2017–
2021
Ru Sevensnationalteam1:England
Great Britain

Megan Jones (born 23 October 1996) is a Welsh and English rugby union player. She debuted for England against New Zealand in 2015. She plays for Leicester Tigers Women at club level.[1]

International career

Jones travelled to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a non-playing reserve for Team GB sevens.[2]

Despite being a Welsh-speaker and growing up in Wales, Jones made her XVs debut for England in July 2015, playing against New Zealand in the Rugby Super Series that year. She then played off the bench in England's 39–6 win over Canada in the Old Mutual Wealth Series.[3] [4]

She was named in the English squad for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland, where she scored the side's opening try (against Spain). She also played in the semi-final versus France and started in the final.[5] [6]

Also in 2017, Jones played in the first two matches of the 2017 International Women's Rugby Series playing at outside centre and inside centre.

In late 2017, Jones joined the England Sevens programme full time. The England Sevens men and women's teams were made redundant in August 2020.[7]

In 2021, she returned to rugby XVs as an invitational player for England in the 2021 Women's Six Nations Championship.

In June 2024, she was named in the British squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.[8] The team finished seventh.[9]

Club career

Jones played for Bristol Bears Women until she signed for Wasps Ladies in 2020, where she continues to play as a fly-half and a centre. In 2022, she signed for Premiership Club Leicester Tigers. [10] [11] [12]

Early life and education

Born in Cardiff, Jones was educated at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf and began her rugby career at Glamorgan Wanderers, aged six.

She studied Sports Science and Management at Hartpury College and went on to receive a BSc Honours in Sport Science and management from Loughborough.[13]

During the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, Jones offered free online fitness sessions for kids. She has also been coaching Barnes Women after being made redundant by the Rugby Football Union.[14]

Personal life

Jones is openly lesbian, and is in a same-sex relationship with her England 7s and Leicester Tigers teammate Celia Quansah. The couple represented Great Britain together at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[15] [16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 May 2023. Future Leicester Resident: Meg Jones. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20231002162706/http://leicestertigers.com/news/future-leicester-resident-megan-jones. 2023-10-02. 2023-03-31. Leicester Tigers. en.
  2. Web site: Megan Jones. 2021-05-31. www.ultimaterugby.com. en.
  3. News: The Welsh speaker who plays for England. en-GB. BBC Sport. 2021-05-31.
  4. Web site: RFU. 2021-05-31. www.englandrugby.com.
  5. News: 29 June 2017. England announce squad for 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. en. RFU. live. 2017-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191312/http://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-announce-squad-for-2017-women-rugby-world-cup/. 2017-10-04.
  6. News: Mockford. Sarah. 2017-06-29. England name their squad for their Women's Rugby World Cup defence. en-US. Rugby World. dead. 2017-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190852/http://www.rugbyworld.com/news/england-name-squad-womens-world-cup-defence-79159. 2017-09-20.
  7. News: Rowan. Kate. 2021-01-31. Exclusive interview: Meet Meg Jones and Celia Quansah - 'It's easier to be gay in rugby than other sports'. en-GB. The Telegraph. 2021-05-31. 0307-1235.
  8. Web site: Welsh speedster Jasmine Joyce makes history with Team GB Paris Olympics call-up. ITV.com. 19 June 2024. 19 June 2024. Matt. Southcombe.
  9. Web site: Around the Games: Day Four of Paris 2024. Team GB. 31 July 2024.
  10. Web site: StackPath. 2021-05-31. www.waspsfc.co.uk.
  11. Web site: Celia Quansah and Meg Jones. 2021-05-31. Rugby Journal. en-GB.
  12. Web site: 2020-09-22. Jones is a Wasp!. 2021-05-31. www.newschainonline.com. en.
  13. News: Howell. Andy. 2017-08-26. The Cardiff-born Welsh speaker set to become our first ever rugby World Cup winner - for England!. walesonline. live. 2017-09-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190929/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/cardiff-born-welsh-speaker-set-13532690. 2017-09-20.
  14. Web site: December 2020. Joe Harvey Monday 7. Megan Jones Exclusive: England Sevens giving back to the community with online fitness sessions. 2021-05-31. Talking Rugby Union.
  15. News: Tokyo 2020: Megan Jones and Celia Quansah on rugby, their relationship and Olympic selection . 29 June 2021 . BBC Sport.
  16. News: Hayden. Jessica. Celia Quansah and Megan Jones: Rugby's inclusive nature gave us freedom to explore our sexuality. . en. 2022-01-30. 0140-0460.