England Rugby Captain Meg Jones Pushes for Fertility Support

The captain of England's women's rugby team is speaking up about a challenge many female athletes face: building a career without sacrificing the chance to start a family.

Meg Jones, 29, wants Red Roses players to have access to fertility support and egg freezing coverage. "Why should my opportunity to have a family be taken away from me because I want to pursue my career?" she told BBC Sport.

Jones isn't just talking about the issue. She's already started her own fertility journey with her fiancée, visiting a clinic to check their egg counts and exploring their options for conceiving after their upcoming wedding.

The England captain says she's an "open book" and wants to share her experience to help other athletes navigate similar decisions. Her transparency comes at a time when women's sports are finally addressing the reality that elite athletes often compete during their prime childbearing years.

Jones was inspired after Spain's football federation announced it would pay for international women's players to freeze their eggs. Chelsea women's team followed with a similar program covering the entire squad's egg freezing costs, plus workshops, treatments and counseling.

The Ripple Effect

The conversation is already creating change. The Rugby Football Union responded that they're exploring how their support can evolve, with discussions underway about introducing fertility treatment coverage.

England already leads in some areas. The Red Roses have one of the best maternity policies in international women's sports, with two World Cup winners recently giving birth and two more expecting. Players currently get a week of paid leave per treatment cycle for fertility appointments.

But Jones believes more is needed. "I wouldn't have thought it was something that we were lacking, but now I think about it I'm like, yeah, actually, I haven't got that opportunity to go and create a family and be guided on," she explained.

Her advocacy extends beyond her own team. "The more we can empower women the better for the game as a whole, and better for women in general," Jones said.

As more teams step up with comprehensive fertility support, female athletes may no longer have to choose between championships and motherhood.