England Rugby Union: Meg Jones Calls for Fertility Support
By Sara Orchard
England women’s rugby union captain, Meg Jones, has advocated for better fertility support and egg freezing for Red Roses players. In an interview with BBC Sport, she raises the issue of balancing career pursuits with family planning.
"Why should my opportunity to have a family be taken away from me because I want to pursue my career?" Jones questioned. She has already initiated her fertility journey, consulting a clinic for advice.
The 29-year-old captain openly discussed both her upcoming wedding and family plans, stating that they initially planned to freeze their eggs but were advised against it for now, considering their wedding post-conception.
Known for its progressive maternity policies, the Red Roses have seen several players become new mothers or expectant ones recently. In response to Jones’s statement, a Rugby Football Union (RFU) spokesperson highlighted existing comprehensive maternity and parental policies and expressed openness to enhancing support in this area, potentially including financial compensation for fertility treatments.
Currently, England players are entitled to one week of paid leave per treatment cycle for appointments and treatments. Jones initially proposed implementing a similar policy as recently introduced by the Spanish football federation, where international women’s players can freeze their eggs at no cost. Chelsea Women have also partnered with a fertility company to provide support services to their players.
Before England’s match against Australia, Jones emphasized the importance of guidance in family planning, stating that while she hadn’t expected such a lack of opportunities for players to create families, it is an area that needs attention. She believes that empowering women in rugby and providing better fertility resources will benefit the sport and society as a whole.
