Jones earns back-to-back World Rugby nominations after leading Red Roses to eighth straight Six Nations title

Megan Jones has been nominated for the World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year award for the second year running, with the England and Trailfinders Women centre recognised after captaining the Red Roses to an eighth consecutive Guinness Women’s Six Nations title in 2026.

Jones stepped into the captaincy this year following Zoe Stratford’s maternity leave and led England to another dominant Six Nations campaign. Twelve months ago she narrowly missed out on the award, losing to Canada’s Sophie De Goede.

She is joined on the shortlist by England teammate Zoe Harrison, who has been a standout performer for John Mitchell’s side throughout 2026. Canada prop DaLeaka Menin, a two-time WXV Global Series Player of the Week this autumn, and Black Ferns No. 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker — who has impressed in her first full year under head coach Whitney Hansen — complete the four-strong nomination list.

The awards mark the 25th edition of the World Rugby Awards, which recognise achievements at the highest level of the game. Supporters can vote online from Monday 26 October until Wednesday 28 October 2026, with the Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year set to be unveiled on Monday 2 November.

Elsewhere in the women’s categories, France’s Pauline Barrat, New Zealand’s Elinor-Plum King, Australia’s Amelia Whitaker and USA teenager Bella Vogel are nominated for the Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year. Barrat claimed the Women’s Six Nations Breakthrough Player of the Tournament award, while King and Whitaker have both scored on their Test debuts. Vogel, 19, has been central to the Eagles’ first five-match winning streak in two decades.

Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney MacDonald, Black Ferns tighthead prop Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and King also received special commendations for their contributions in the 2026 calendar year.

The International Rugby Players Association Women’s 15s Try of the Year shortlist features Olivia Apps and Abi Burton of England, alongside France’s Pauline Bourdon Sansus and Léa Champon.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said the quality of this year’s nominees was “a testament to the incredible talent, dedication and ambition driving women’s rugby forward”, adding that each candidate had made “an outstanding contribution to the game in 2026”.