England women’s rugby captain Meg Jones has publicly advocated for the Red Roses to receive greater access to fertility support and egg freezing services. Since taking over the captaincy in March, the 29-year-old has been vocal about the challenges female athletes face when balancing professional careers with family planning.
Speaking to Sport, Jones questioned why her opportunity to start a family should be compromised by her dedication to her sport. She described herself as an “open book” regarding these personal matters, noting that she has already begun her own fertility journey alongside her fiancée. After visiting a clinic to have their egg count checked, the couple received advice that they did not need to freeze their eggs immediately, allowing them to potentially wait until after their upcoming wedding to conceive.
The conversation around fertility support gained momentum after Jones discussed the Spanish football federation’s decision to fund egg freezing for its international players during “The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby” podcast. She suggested that the England setup should consider adopting similar policies. “I wouldn’t have thought it was something that we were lacking from a governing point of view, 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,” Jones stated ahead of England’s match against Australia.
While the Red Roses are widely regarded as having one of the most robust maternity policies in international women’s sports—with two World Cup winners having recently given birth and two others currently expecting—there is no specific financial provision for fertility treatments. Currently, players are entitled to one week of paid leave per treatment cycle to attend appointments.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has responded to the calls, with a spokesperson emphasizing that they are proud of their industry-leading support for family planning. The organization stated that they are committed to supporting players’ decisions and are always open to exploring how their existing maternity and parental policies can evolve. It is understood that internal discussions regarding potential fertility packages are ongoing.
The push for better support reflects a broader trend in professional sports. In August, Chelsea Women announced a partnership with a fertility company to provide their squad with comprehensive services, including workshops, counseling, and assessments, with reports indicating the club would cover the full cost of egg freezing for players.
Jones believes that learning from other teams and institutions is vital for the development of the women’s game. “It’s definitely been flagged with our group,” she added. “I think the more we can empower women the better for the game as a whole, and better for women in general.” The report also notes that speaking to Sport, Jones said: “Why should my opportunity to have a family be taken away from me because I want to pursue my career. The report also notes that that’s where we were going to look to conceive.
