‘Competition drives you to be better’: Hannah Jones on friendly rivalries behind Gloucester success
Last year was a big one for Hannah Jones. The talented centre captained Wales to their best Women’s Six Nations performance since 2009, led the team at WXV 1 and helped Gloucester-Hartpury to a first top-flight title.
And it looks as though she has picked up in 2024 exactly where she left off in 2023. Her first three starts of the current Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) season have all come since 30 December and have yielded three tries and as many victories.
“It was exciting to get back in the Gloucester-Hartpury shirt. Coming back from Wales, it’s been refreshing playing alongside different players,” Jones tells RugbyPass.
“It’s really competitive in training for a shirt, so I really enjoy it there and we work hard.”
Jones’ contributions to those wins against Harlequins, Loughborough Lightning and Trailfinders Women have helped ensure that Gloucester-Hartpury head into this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Saracens with 29 points from a possible 30. That leaves them in second, only six points adrift of their resurgent visitors, who have played a game more.
If you are of the opinion that Saturday’s spectacle could have an important impact on the outcome of the PWR season, then you are not alone. England’s complete coaching panel will be at Kingsholm to watch it unfold.
“Saracens is going to be a big test match for us, so we’ll definitely see where we’re at,” Jones adds.
“It’s going to be a physical game and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Gloucester-Hartpury have struggled historically against eight-time league champions Saracens, winning only two of the sides’ 16 meetings. Even last season, Saracens emerged victorious home and away, inflicting their only league defeats of their title-winning campaign.
The difference this time, perhaps, is that Jones and her team-mates will arrive at Kingsholm as champions and with the psychological advantage that that tag can imbue.
Certainly, Gloucester-Hartpury do not appear to have suffered any kind of hangover from their title triumph, a thrilling away victory at Exeter the standout result from their six wins so far.
One reason for that could be, according to Jones, that last season’s achievement was parked before this one began. “Obviously, it gives you a bit of confidence knowing what happened last season,” Jones says. “But it’s kind of a fresh season, you’ve got to start again.
“You know, there’s some new players in the mix, keeping that group cohesion going [is important] but it’s definitely exciting and, you know, you can’t not look back and think, ‘oh, we won the league last year’!
“But you’ve also, you know, got to keep a steady eye on the next game and not look too far ahead.”
She adds: “We’re very proud of what we did last season, like I said, but it was kind of a fresh start. It gives you confidence knowing you can go into a game and as long as you build momentum, you get those wins.
“And what I love at Hartpury is that the girls love it there. So, it’s a very nice environment to be in.
“It’s very competitive, which I love but it’s always a nice place to go back to as well. It’s very family orientated and the support the girls give each other is outstanding.
“So, it definitely shows what happens off the field brings you closer on the field.”
As Jones references, one of the primary drivers of the club’s ascent over the past 18 months has been the intense competition for a place in head coach Sean Lynn’s starting XV.
Jones certainly knows she cannot ease up in training when Rachel Lund, Tatyana Heard and Kerin Lake are contending for a place in midfield. An enviable collection of centres even after Sophie Bridger’s departure to this weekend’s opponents last summer.
“Competition drives you to be better, it drives you within training, you know that competitive edge, you’ve always got to be 100 per cent in every training session,” Jones explains.
“Lynny (Lynn), to be fair to him, he’s got a tough job in the week to pick a squad, in all positions really there’s good competition across the board.
“There is an edge there, but there’s also… a sense of helping each other as well because no matter what squad gets picked on the weekend, we want to win and you’ve got to put the best people in the best [position] to do it.
“You want to strive and help those people to do well on the weekend as well. So, no matter what your role is, whether you’re a starter or you’re on the bench or you’re not involved at all, you’ve always got the role to make the squad better.”
Against Loughborough and Trailfinders, Jones started alongside her long-time club and international colleague – and commuting companion – Lake.
The pair first shared the same pitch when Jones made her Wales debut in February 2015 and Lake lined up outside of her when she made her first test start in Dublin a year later.
“Me and Kerin share lifts and we spend many hours in the cars on the way to training, so that connection has definitely grown over the years,” Jones says.
“It’s definitely a really good relationship we have together. We know how to get the best out of each other, which is really good.
“Defensively, I know I’m safe on the inside there with Kerin. She’s a brilliant defender, and we’re just developing our attack game together now to get into those wide channels.”
Jones and Lake are part of a large contingent of Welsh players who have helped drive Gloucester-Hartpury up the table.
The most recent addition to that group, one of eight Welsh women named in the 23-player squad that beat Trailfinders in Ealing last weekend, is Nel Metcalfe.
The 19-year-old full-back has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 18 months, making her test debut against the USA last September, just over a year after she had first appeared for Wales U18.
Jones is a fan. “Nel’s brilliant,” she says. “She’s a very skilful player and she’s definitely one to look for for the future.
“It’s brilliant playing alongside her pace, her knowledge of the game and it’s just really exciting that she’s just 19 years old coming through the system.
“And there’s a brilliant pathway now being built that she can achieve, and you know, she’s pro already so it’s just I can’t wait to see her go.”
Gloucester-Hartpury fans will hope that Metcalfe continues her exciting journey in cherry and white. With a player of the calibre of Jones on hand to guide her, the future for both club and country looks bright.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to comments