'I've always backed myself': Meg Jones reflects on remarkable year

Meg Jones almost did not know how to react when she was handed the RugbyPass Top 50 Women’s Rugby Players of 2026 trophy.

The Red Roses captain and Trailfinders Women centre juggled the award in her hands while overlooking the Lower Manhattan skyline, before setting it down to speak to RugbyPass.

It has been a huge year for the 30-year-old. Handed the Red Roses captaincy after Zoe Stratford announced her pregnancy, Jones led England to a Guinness Women’s Six Nations title and has been one of John Mitchell’s standout performers throughout the year.

“Firstly, it’s a huge honour to get the recognition,” Jones told RugbyPass. “It’s funny, I never really play the game for any sort of accolade or any sort of congratulations. I just see it as doing my job. Doing my job well.

“I thrive best when I’m in a good team, which I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of for many years with England. I’m very lucky that I’ve got the support and the people around me to allow me to do what I need to do.

“I’m also aware of how many amazing women’s rugby players there are in the game. It keeps getting better each year. Everyone keeps upping their level.

“I’ve just always backed myself and backed what I do. I’ve played this game my whole life, but never for the accolades. Although it is nice to get the recognition when you do.”

Jones is England’s Swiss Army knife. No job is too big for the centre, who is just as comfortable dancing past defenders as she is putting her shoulder in.

2026 has certainly provided plenty of highlights for Jones. After helping the Red Roses to another Women’s Six Nations title, she then guided Trailfinders to their first-ever Premiership Women’s Rugby final, where they finished runners-up to Saracens.

Jones was also nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year alongside England teammate Zoe Harrison. The pair were beaten to the award by Black Ferns back-row Kaipo Olsen-Baker. The Cardiff-born back was also named in the midfield of the World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team 2026.

It has not all been plain sailing, however. During the WXV Global Series 2026, England saw their four-year, 41-match unbeaten run come to an end. Their winning streak was halted by a 26-26 draw with Canada at Exeter’s Sandy Park.

A month later, in Ontario, Kévin Rouet’s side won back-to-back matches against England, achieving their long-held ambition of getting the better of the Red Roses.

Several members of that England team had never lost a Test match before. Before Jones and her teammates returned to winning ways with a 55-12 victory over the USA Women’s Eagles in New Jersey, the squad discussed how they wanted to start a new chapter following the WXV Global Series.

“We faced a bit of adversity, but we thought we’d face adversity,” Jones said. “It has allowed us to really reflect on ourselves individually and as a group, which is amazing.

“I’m an optimist. I fully believe, for whatever reason, things are already written for us and you always look and you go, remember that time which was really tough – it actually made us.”

 

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One of the qualities that sets Jones apart is her relentlessness. The 30-year-old has a single-minded determination to be among the top performers every time she steps onto the pitch.

That characteristic has been evident since she earned her first England cap in 2015 as an 18-year-old. Now a veteran of two Olympic Games and a Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 winner, Jones has built a track record of excellence that shows no sign of stopping.

When asked where that drive comes from, she immediately traces it back to her childhood.

“It was ingrained in me when I was young,” Jones said. “My dad [Simon, who passed away in 2024] always said, if you want anything you have to live, sleep and breathe it and repeat.

“I said I love rugby. He said, perfect – then eat, sleep and repeat it, and continue to do that. I just always did. I used to go to sleep with a rugby ball.

“I love tackling. I love the physical side of the game, which not many backs do. That’s probably my point of difference. I’m 110% in. I’ll always commit. I don’t have a fear of failure. I have a need-to-achieve attitude.

“I don’t really see myself stopping. I love rugby so much. It’s given me so much. It’s looked after me. It makes me reflect on me as a human. I’m a very grateful person. Grateful for what I have achieved, what I continue to achieve and what I’ve been involved in.”

Jones’ crowning as the number one player in the RugbyPass Top 50 Women’s Rugby Players of 2026 brings three days of player reveals to a close. It also comes immediately after a WXV Global Series campaign that has showcased the growing quality of women’s international rugby over the past two months.

It was not just England’s defeats to Canada that caught the attention. Ahead of their clash with the Red Roses last week, the USA were the only unbeaten team in the WXV Global Series, having recorded victories over Ireland, Wales and Italy.

Just a year on from the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final, the future of women’s Test rugby has never looked brighter.

“I always say it, we’re an entertainment product,” Jones said. “We’re there to really entertain viewers, get people to come and watch, get sponsors to be involved etc.

“We want it to be competitive. That’s the bottom line. We want to grow the women’s game. We only do that by playing well, playing good rugby that people appreciate.

“I’m excited about what’s to come. I’m excited about how it’s going to challenge and test me individually, but also the group as well.”

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