WALES CAPTAIN HANNAH Jones has already witnessed an enormous improvement in her side as a result of the professional contracts issued to players for the first time last year.
The initial swoop of signings, which took effect in January 2022, saw 12 Welsh women receive full-time deals while another 17 later joined on six-month contracts ahead of last autumn’s World Cup.
The Welsh Rugby Union in March announced 25 players would be on full-time contracts for 2023, a move the skipper believes will be monumental in shifting her squad’s mentality.
Jones told the PA news agency: “Prior to the contracts girls were working full-time, in university full-time, trying to juggle work and a professional lifestyle as an athlete. And you’re really not giving your all to that athlete.
“(Before) you had to be super organised. I’ve got this at this point, this at this point, making sure that you’re fitting everything in, with your diet, your nutrition, it’s so much better now, and I’m very grateful for it.
“I’ve definitely seen a change since I’ve been able to have that full-time contract and solely focus on rugby, in physical changes, mental changes, it’s just huge for the group and we’ll keep working on that.”
Wales are carrying a spotless 2023 Six Nations record so far, beating Ireland 31-5 before grinding out a 34-22 victory over Scotland in round two. On Saturday they will face the biggest test of their transformed side against four-time defending champions England.
The Cardiff Arms Park encounter is sold-out and poised to set a record for a Wales women’s home match with over 8,000 tickets snapped up, almost double the 4,962 who turned up for their Ireland opener – itself a record-setter.
Jones, 26, who alongside many of her Wales team-mates plays her club rugby with second-placed, title-chasing Allianz Premier 15s side Gloucester-Hartpury, said: “Even with the crowd against Ireland it was pretty loud and encouraging, so to have double the amount now is crazy. Hopefully we enjoy that and we thrive off that vibe around the stadium.”
Wales will need the support as they look to upset the Red Roses, who travel to the Welsh capital following decisive victories over Scotland and Italy. England are eyeing up a fourth consecutive Grand Slam after the pandemic prevented it from being contested in 2021.
It was that Covid-tinged tournament that initially forced the women’s competition to be played in a separate window several weeks after the men’s, but the move proved so popular it became a deliberate decision to do the same in 2022, when the women’s Championship also took on a title sponsor, TikTok, for the first time.
“I’ve been in the squad for about eight years now and every year just gets bigger and bigger,” said Jones.
“You get noticed a little more when you’re just going shopping and stuff like that. Obviously we’ve been shown on the TV a bit more, media has definitely improved, so girls can definitely look up to us and want to be rugby players for their careers now, which is brilliant.”
I say this without jest, but it must be difficult to be humble when you’re only a short time from having your statue placed in Lansdowne Rd.
Yes you were a team player Brian. And you always made us feel like we were on that team too. A gent. Enjoy your retirement.
He Sounds a bit needy to me ..
I want / i want .
Wouldn’t it actually be cool if Ireland won the Championship in Paris at the very stadium where he made his name? It really is one of those stories, that the book of Brian opened in Paris, so shall it close in Paris.
What a player! :’)
Love this script
He might not be sentimental but I am.
I hope every man, woman and child gives him a send off to remember on Saturday.
He deserves it.
I think I’m going to avoid all rugby media between now and the end of the 6N. All these “Bye Bye Bod” stories are making me sad… :(
It’ll be a bit sad before and after the match on Saturday but there will be zero sentiment during the game, especially from the legend himself. I’m sure he’ll give everything to the cause as he has done throughout his brilliant career. Right up there with the greats in rugby worldwide. Good luck in the future BOD
Got my tickets for Saturday bitter,sweet seeing his last game there, he has given me best sporting memories of my life. Hope we win and send him to Paris with a chance of the championship. Thanks BOD
A true Irish Legend. And he’s not even from Cork!! ;) Thanks for the memories Brian.
The greatest irish sports star of all time.
He was not such a team player when he stopped in the georgia world cup game to roar at stringer for a bad pass.
Still a great player though.
nobody saying the man is perfect ted. that was out of frustration, the team went in talking of winning the world cup and played rubbish the whole competition
In his whole time with Ireland that’s the best you can do ted?
Sad ted sad.
Don’t worry you won’t have to watch him much longer, two more games for Ireland and a few for Leinster that’s all.
I’ll tell you one thing ted he’ll pick up another medal at least before then so if I was you I’d find a desert island somewhere and get stranded until June because this will torment you. L
I wonder which part of Ireland ted hails from?petty little man
I couldn’t possibly guess even!
As i said bod is a great player. One of the best irish players of all time.
However he was guilty one of the least teamplayer (?) acts I have seen from any Irish player in an Irish jersey.
I just found it ironic that he used that description.
It was seven years ago. And over the course of the fifteen years he has saved ireland many times.
Ted do you think he should’ve clapped stringer on the back told him don’t worry about it it’s only a game.but try not to do it again old chap?
Possibly he could have tried to chase down the georgian before he scored he try.
He could even have been a team player and accepted that everyone makes mistakes and that his experienced team mate would have been far more pissed off with the mistake.
Bod has always given his all for Ireland. And I would defend him on his talent, his dedication, his daft ability to put his body on the line and just about every other aspect of his career.
But for me, his teamwork will always be tainted for roaring at and blaming a teammate while an opponent ran in a try.
Ted let it go buddy it was a long time ago
No idea whether he was a team player or not, kind of difficult to tell as a spectator. He went through a string of piss poor performances during the tubby Glenda years, was never ever pulled up by his teammates for the many flicks & kicks to nowhere (Schmidt only touched on that recently) but first onto his teammates if opposite occurs. someone with his gravitas & authority within the game can damage any team ethic, especially when off-form in his own right. Still the greatest of this generation, but clearly acutely aware of it too…
Pretty much exactly what he should’ve done
Without a doubt our greatest sportsman ever. Thanks for all the memories and best of luck for the future! (He might read this).
In the 13th minute #onemoreyear again!
Time to move on.
You will be remembered as a genius, tough shit!!!!
Looking forward to him excelling in his last 2 matches, hope he runs in a hat trick in Paris :)
A sporting legend and a gent….great combination! Enjoy your retirement it’s well deserved.
National Treasure
Terrible movie
And YOU WILL be
And thats all he was, no one man is bigger than the team
A national hero and treasure, there are not enough plaudits for you sir