Meg Jones has been appointed captain of England's women's rugby team for the 2026 Six Nations after regular skipper Zoe Stratford announced her pregnancy. Jones, who served as vice-captain during England's World Cup victory over Canada last September, will lead the Red Roses in the upcoming tournament.
England begin their campaign against Ireland on 11 April at Twickenham, where a record crowd of over 60,000 is expected. Jones, a 29-year-old centre with 33 caps, expressed her excitement: “Firstly, I’m really excited for Zoe and wish her and Strats every happiness on their news. It’s a huge honour to have been named captain of the Red Roses.”
Jones will be supported by vice-captains Amy Cokayne and Alex Matthews, while Marlie Packer has been dropped from the role. The squad includes 25 World Cup winners and seven uncapped players: Christiana Balogun, Millie David, Haineala Lutui, Annabel Meta, Sarah Parry, Demelza Short, and Jodie Verghese.
Head coach John Mitchell said: “It’s great to be back together, ready to earn the right again following the Rugby World Cup. The impact of the tournament across the country has been outstanding, and it’s reflected in the incredible ticket sales.”
