How the Lions and John Mitchell helped put the spring back in Meg Jones' step

At the end of 2025 Meg Jones sat down with the overwhelming sensation that she had completed rugby.

Last year the Red Roses centre had won the Women’s Rugby World Cup, was nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year and, just for good measure, was awarded an MBE.

It is little wonder that the 29-year-old England vice-captain was scratching around for some motivation.

“After the World Cup, I thought that was it, like I’ve won it now, I’ve won rugby,” Jones told BBC Sport. “What more is there to do?”

“The comedown was surreal. Obviously there was good stuff, but you also get massively overwhelmed. It’s crazy the adrenaline and all the highs you’re on.

“So I was a bit like, what’s going to make me drive, and what’s going to create the spark again?”

To start getting that ‘spark’ back again, Jones joined her international teammates at the first official Red Roses camp since their Women’s Rugby World Cup win in January.

A chance to set new goals at the start of a new cycle, with some of the next generation in attendance, it was the perfect setting for a fire to be relit.

In the weeks since England boss John Mitchell has signed a new contract to stay with the Red Roses until 2029 and fixtures for the first-ever British & Irish Lions Women’s tour in 2027 have been confirmed.

“Mitch is unbelievable the way he thinks,” the Trailfinders Women back said. “The passion and drive just radiates off him.

“I’m feeling more motivated now, that there’s something that we can keep pushing on for. I’m only 29 and it’s given a bit of spring to my step.

“Playing for the Lions is not something I’ve ever dreamed of really. I’ve played for Great Britain at the Olympics so I understand that whole camaraderie, bringing all the nations together, and I love that side of things. It’s exciting, for sure.”