Meg Jones: England center targets Lions tour and back-to-back World Cup

In the months since England finally achieved their World Cup dream, midfielder Meg Jones has wondered what challenges remain in her rugby career.

Jones, who was vice-captain, was nominated for the Player of the Tournament award after a string of outstanding performances as the Red Roses cruised to an emotional victory.

“After the World Cup, I thought this is it, like now I’ve won it, I’ve won rugby. What more do I have to do?” Jones told BBC Sport.

“The decline has been surreal. Obviously there are good things, but you also feel so exhausted. It’s crazy the adrenaline and all the highs you get to.”

“So I was thinking a little bit, what’s going to get me driving, what’s going to spark me again?”

In January, in the Roses’ first meeting since lifting the World Cup in September, coach John Mitchell provided that spark.

The New Zealander has challenged the World Cup winners to take their games to new levels to give themselves the best possible chance of making the team on the historic British and Irish Women’s Tour in 2027.

Jones, who was named an MBE in the New Year Honors List, added: “Mitch is unbelievable the way he thinks.” “The passion and drive radiate from him.

“I feel more motivated now, because there is something we can keep pushing for.

“I’m only 29 and it’s given my step a little spring.

“Playing for the Lions was nothing I’d really dreamed of. I played for Great Britain in the Olympics, so I understand that whole camaraderie, which brings all the countries together, and I love that side of things. It’s definitely exciting.”

England have dominated the Women’s Six Nations, winning 21 of the 30 editions, and will begin their bid for a fifth successive Grand Slam title in April.

But the Red Roses have only won three World Cup titles compared to New Zealand’s six, and have never won two tournaments in a row, something Mitchell wants his players to correct.

“We had a lot of young girls on that team who were probably saying: ‘Wow, I feel fresh’ but the rest of the girls were saying: ‘We just won the World Cup, we’ve never done it back-to-back, so what’s really going to push us to do this?’” Jones said.

“Even just looking at the trophy, and the number of times the New Zealand name comes up, you say, ‘I want to move beyond that a little bit.’ I want to be part of that legacy.”