Meg Jones Appointed England Captain for Women's Six Nations Campaign
Meg Jones has been selected to captain England's world champion women's rugby team during their upcoming Women's Six Nations title defence, following the announcement that regular captain Zoe Stratford is pregnant. The 29-year-old centre, who served as vice-captain when England secured the World Cup victory against Canada last September, will now assume leadership responsibilities for the prestigious tournament.
Leadership Transition and Tournament Opener
Jones expressed her excitement for Stratford's pregnancy news while acknowledging the significant honour of being named captain of the Red Roses. "Firstly, I'm really excited for Zoe and wish her and Strats every happiness on their news," Jones stated. "It's a huge honour to have been named captain of the Red Roses. Mitch and I have built a strong relationship over the past three years and it's a great feeling to have his trust to lead the group along with a tight leadership team."
England will commence their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on 11 April at Twickenham Stadium, where tournament officials anticipate a record-breaking crowd exceeding 60,000 spectators. This match represents the beginning of England's quest to defend their championship title against formidable European rivals.
Supporting Leadership and Squad Composition
The newly appointed captain will receive support from vice-captains Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews throughout the tournament. Notably, Marlie Packer, who served as vice-captain during the previous year, will not retain that position in the current leadership structure. Jones brings considerable experience to her new role, having earned 33 caps for England and receiving a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination last year.
England head coach John Mitchell announced a 38-player squad for the Six Nations that includes seven uncapped players seeking to make their international debuts. The fresh faces joining the squad are Christiana Balogun, Millie David, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Sarah Parry, Demelza Short, and Jodie Verghese.
Blending Experience with New Talent
Mitchell's selection strategy combines substantial championship experience with promising new talent, featuring 25 players from last year's World Cup-winning squad alongside the seven potential debutants. The coach emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive standards despite recent successes.
"It's great to be back together, ready to earn the right again following the Rugby World Cup," Mitchell commented. "The impact of the tournament across the country has been outstanding, and it's reflected in the incredible ticket sales - not just for our matches at Allianz Stadium and Ashton Gate, but across the Six Nations as a whole."
Mitchell further explained his squad selection philosophy: "As Red Roses, what comes next is a fresh start. The Six Nations is hugely important to us, and we know success in this competition has to be earned every time. We're excited by the energy the younger players will bring into the squad, and alongside our experienced players."
The Women's Six Nations represents England's first major international competition since their World Cup triumph, providing an opportunity for the team to demonstrate their continued dominance in women's rugby while integrating emerging talent into the championship environment.
