Jones has no regrets about turning her back on Wales
TIGERS PLAYMAKER SET TO FACE HOME COUNTRY FOR FIRST TIME
LEICESTER Tigers and England fly-half Megan Jones will face her home country of Wales for the first time on Saturday – but insists she has no regrets about choosing the Red Roses.
The 27-year-old was born and raised in Cardiff but moved to England as a teenager to play rugby at Hartpury and made her international debut for the Red Roses in 2015.
“When I made the decision in 2014 that was the time England had just won the World Cup. It was really positive. It was the best leap I’ve made,” said Jones.
“It’s easy to live in the past, but I probably would make the same decision now. It’s allowed me to grow in huge ways.”
Jones has since started a World Cup final in 2017 and four years later co-captained Team GB’s Sevens team at the Tokyo Olympics.
The Tigers star is expected to be named in the England squad for their second Six Nations clash against Wales at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate stadium on Saturday (4.45pm kick-off).
She was among the replacements as the Red Roses thrashed Italy 48-0 in last Sunday’s opening match, despite No.8 Sarah Beckett being sent off.
Jones says the England team are wary of the passion Wales will bring after they narrowly lost 20-18 to Scotland in their opening Six Nations match.
“It’s going to be an interesting one,” she said.
“In terms of the build-up, it’s different but this one will be one to remember, particularly the build-up.
“My dad will be the biggest supporter on both ends.
“It’s no different to any other game but my dad will be watching closer because he loves watching Wales in particular but loves supporting me and the girls as well.
“No different in our preparation, particularly from my end, but there will be a lot of passion at the weekend and passion from our end as well.”
England are aiming for a sixth successive Six Nations title and are building towards a home World Cup next year.
Jones is hoping England build on their victory over Italy but warned that Wales have “threats across the park”.
“Most of the teams now are closing the gap on us,” she said.
“We speak about trying to make that gap bigger and that’s really important.
“They have now got the resources and backing from the government body and that will only make things better for them in the long run and I only hear good things from the camp.
“Wales are going to be all guns blazing and will want to right some wrongs.”
Meanwhile, Beckett has been given a threeweek ban for her red card against Italy. She was sent off after a bunker review into an 11th-minute incident in which she landed her body weight on to the standing leg of Italy centre Michela Sillari in a dangerous cleanout of a ruck, using a crocodile roll action World Rugby are determined to rid the sport
of.
An independent disciplinary committee upheld the red card, meaning Beckett will miss England’s next three Six Nations games against Wales (Saturday), Scotland (April 13) and Ireland (April 20). She will be able to return for England’s final match of the Six Nations in France on April 27.