Chasing greatness through grief – England’s warrior queen

Meg Jones is unquestionably the best player at this World Cup because of her speed, strength, industry, and uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right moment.

She was also one of Amazon’s best delivery drivers for a while during the initial stages of the Covid lockdown.

Besides, she has bladder control.

The England international praised her Barely Rugby podcast, saying, “I was really good, so good.

“I was very quick. They wished I had a documentary about me.

“Ok, but toilet breaks are not really a thing. You arrive at 5 am, and you’ll likely leave without getting wee until 4 pm.

Jones, age 23, had already attended a Rugby World Cup final while wearing her hi-viz vest as she delivered door to door.

She had been outside center when New Zealand defeated her in 2017. She had previously traveled to the Olympics as a teenager and played in the fourth-place British team’s absence.

But she believed her rugby career might be over because of the pandemic and her frozen Sevens contract.

According to Jones, “It was scary.”

“My livelihood had suddenly vanished because I’ve never had a job in your life.”

“I just assumed that I would spend the rest of my life working as an Amazon deliveryman.”

Jones had exceptional talent. When she was six, her father Simon took her to Glamorgan Wanderers and she was born in Cardiff.

She was 11 years old when the Cardiff Schoolboys beat Bridgend in the DC Thomas Cup final at Principality Stadium.

Her performance in the Cardiff Blues under-15 girls team, which she had played a year ago, was still outstanding.

According to a report from the time, “her ball playing probably was only eclipsed by her kicking display.”

Danielle Waterman, the winner of the England World Cup, was impressed by her performance in one of her matches.

Waterman was watching because Jones had a future plan that would take her across the border despite her Welsh heritage, Welsh father, and native tongue. She had a plan in place.

Waterman ran the best program for teenage girls in the UK at Hartpury College, followed by Loughborough University, where young people had a direct chance to reach the top of women’s club rugby, and finally England, who was then only second to New Zealand in the women’s Test game at the time.

Jones’ plan for the journey came exactly as it was intended.

She made her England debut at age 18 when New Zealand defeated England 26-7 in July 2015.

However, the rise on the pitch was accompanied by domestic conflict.

Paula, Jones’ mother, had an alcohol problem.

On a neurology ward, she also served as the senior nurse.

She struggled for 20 years, according to Jones, who later admitted to being a functioning addict.

What I mean by that is that you drink in one day, then you go to work the following day, acting as though nothing ever happened.

It’s quite common, they say. However, over time, things only gradually got worse.

Less than seven months after being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer, Jones’ father, Simon, passed away in August of 2024.

While Paula’s condition worsened as a result of Jones’ parents’ spitting when she was 17 when she left for Hartpury, the shock of his death made matters worse.

“I believe my mother was grieving,” Jones said. “I think she was just grieving.”

Paula had been leaving the house, looking after her family for a while. However, Paula relapsed once Jones returned to her own life in Leicester. Another bout of drinking was caused by a missed bottle of amaretto in Jones’ housecleaning.

She was unable to be saved this time. She passed away in December.

In just four months, Jones lost both of his parents.

She claimed in a letter to her grief that “it’s never easy and it never really ends.”

You believe it will pass, but it simply catches you off guard.

“I always believe they’re present in the crowds.

I even feel like they’re all at home right now. In a few weeks, I’ll go see them.

“But generally speaking, I don’t think about anything else whenever I step on that pitch or whatever I’m training.” It almost seems like my safe haven.

Jones is a current patron of Cardiff and Carmarthen’s The Living Room, a charity that assists those who struggle with addiction.

She also gained something else from her loss.

A fearlessness that was born of bitter perspective fuels her stellar performance this year.

Nothing is as bad as hearing that news, she told the Guardian, “because it was the best rugby I’ve ever played.”

Losing my dad, one of my closest friends and the lifeblood of our family, is the worst thing that can make me sadder or lessen my worth.

She wept joy this week as her team-mates’ announcement of her nomination for world player of the year was met with cheers and hugs.

Regardless of the outcome, there will undoubtedly be more tears on Saturday.