Megan Jones poised to lead England to Rugby World Cup glory after personal upheaval

On Saturday, Twickenham will host the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between England and Canada, with a sold-out 82,000-capacity crowd — a world record for a women’s game — and Megan Jones at inside center as a central figure in England’s bid for the title and a potential World Rugby women’s 15s player of the year award.

Born in Cardiff and educated at Ysgol Glantaf, Jones is fluent in Welsh and was the only girl in a team of boys from ages six to 12. 'No one wanted to tackle the girl,' she recalled of those early days. 'And then as soon as they saw my ability, it didn’t matter what gender I was. I used to play scrum-half with the boys and they used to love how bossy I was!' Her journey to this World Cup final has been marked by tragedy and hardship. Jones lost both parents in 2024: her mother, Paula, who was English-born and struggled with alcoholism, died last year, and her father, Simon, died earlier in 2024 after a battle with advanced lung cancer. She says the losses have been a fuel rather than a burden: 'Particularly with the last year I had, obviously losing mum and dad in 2024, I think it was nice recognition and an appreciation of what I’m doing. But it’s also a little bit sad as well in the respect I couldn’t share that moment with them.' Jones’s path included losing her sevens contract with Great Britain in the wake of Covid-19, followed by a spell delivering packages for an online retailer. That detour, she has said, ultimately proved a blessing in disguise, returning her to the 15-a-side game and helping her to flourish.

Jones has shifted to the outer backs as she has matured, but her playmaking ability remains a constant. She has been a starring light at this World Cup and is a key figure for England, who enter the final as favorites to beat Canada. She is one of World Rugby’s three nominees for the women’s 15s player of the year award, a recognition she described as 'nice' given the personal losses she has endured, though she tempered expectations by saying the prize is about the team as well.

England, coached by John Mitchell, will rely on a back line that includes Ellie Kildunne, Abby Dow and Megan Jones at centre, with Zoe Aldcroft captaining the side. Captain Aldcroft said: 'It’s our time now.' England head into the decider on a long run of success and with a mindset aimed at finishing a title drought that stretches back for years. The team carries the weight of a home World Cup, and a victory would be the icing on the cake for the RFU, which has hosted a World Cup that has drawn strong crowds and broad broadcast audiences.

Canada presents a stern test, and the opponent’s threat was underscored by their performance against New Zealand earlier in the tournament. As Jones noted, the moment at Twickenham offers a chance to change the game for women’s rugby in England, and the players approach the moment with a sense of resolve built through years of adversity and near-misses. England’s run of form entering the final — 32 matches without defeat — stands in sharp contrast to the 2022 final, when a red card ended a 30-match unbeaten streak in the most high-stakes game. If England can close out the stop-start narrative with a win, it would mark a landmark moment for the sport in England and a potential catalyst for sustained growth and recognition of women’s rugby on the global stage.