Photo via BBC Sport

England captain Jones calls for fertility support

England women's rugby captain Meg Jones has urged the Rugby Football Union to introduce egg-freezing and fertility assistance for Red Roses squad members. The 29-year-old, who recently went with her fiancée to examine their egg reserves, indicated that medical specialists suggested holding off on preservation until after their upcoming nuptials, at which point they plan to pursue pregnancy.

While England's national side already maintains an acclaimed maternity framework—highlighted by two recent births and two upcoming arrivals among World Cup winners—current rules limit fertility assistance to a single week of paid leave per treatment round. Speaking prior to a weekend fixture against Australia, Jones expressed that professional athletes should not face a choice between sporting ambition and the chance to raise children.

The Red Roses skipper first raised the subject on the podcast The Good, The Scaz & The Rugby, drawing inspiration from Spain's football federation funding egg freezing for its national team and Chelsea Women teaming up with a specialist firm to finance squad-wide freezing alongside consultations. The RFU affirmed its commitment to industry-leading parental care and signaled a willingness to adapt its provisions, with governing body officials actively exploring whether to add financial backing for fertility procedures down the road.