JONES Megan

General
PARTNER AS A TEAMMATE
She hopes that her relationship with partner Celia Quansah can contribute to the normalisation of same-sex relationships in sport. The pair have both played for England together in rugby sevens and in rugby union [15-a-side] for English Premier 15s club Wasps. "Some people outside were a bit strange about the relationship but I say, 'Love is love' and who is to say you can't have a relationship in the same team? It should be spoken about because same-sex relationships in sport need to be normalised but it doesn't need to be a headline or shouted about. It wouldn't be if you worked in an office if you keep it professional. If you think about it in offices or other workplaces, it is who you share your common ground with. We've loved it and it's easier for training because, when one of you doesn't want to, the other can push them." (telegraph.co.uk, 31 Jan 2021)

EARLY STRUGGLES
She felt that she experienced prejudice as a female playing rugby when she was a child, as well as due to her sexuality. "I used to get called a 'lesbian' in a negative way when I was young just because I played rugby. They didn't say that because they knew who I was, they just said that because I played rugby and then that causes a negative effect on girls particularly taking up rugby because people say things like, 'Rugby will turn you gay'. Being called names used to really annoy me. I was quite an angry kid anyway, so it triggered me. Being called 'a man' as well, I hated that. It hindered me coming out a bit. Luckily, my older sister came out, so it looked a bit normal to me but if she hadn't come out, I think it would have been a scarier experience. 99 per cent of the time parents turn around and say they love you because that is who you are."

COACHING ROLES
Aside from her playing commitments, she has offered one-to-one rugby coaching and coaching sessions in schools. She has also served as a backs coach at rugby union [15-a-side] team Barnes Women in London, England and, during the COIVD-19 pandemic, she partnered with a sports school in Guildford, England to offer free online fitness sessions to help keep children fit. "We are not just rugby players. We get taught so many things from psychology to nutrition, to physical activity, to mental health. Those are things that can be passed on to the younger generation and I think that is the main thing. It is always about the future. The future is the next best thing, so we have that next generation in sight." (talkingrugbyunion.co.uk, 07 Dec 2020; therugbyjournal.com, 13 Dec 2020; barnesrfc.org, 01 Sep 2020; virtualrugbyshow.co.uk, 01 Jan 2019)