England U18s: Captain Hayley Jones speaks on her leadership style and position change

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By Charlie Elliott

The captain of England U18s for the Six Nations Festival, Hayley Jones, spoke to Ruck about her leadership style and the recent position change to hooker that has kick-started her career. 

Currently playing at Ealing Trailfinders and Emma Mitchell PDG, Jones is one of the brightest young talents in women's rugby at the moment, with her having signed a five-year deal with Trailfinders in November 2024. 

A back row until last year, she changed as a result of coaches seeing potential for her in the two shirt, which has proved a wise decision as she is now a regular in the U18 Red Roses team. 

When asked about her inspiration, her answer involved someone in her former position. She said: 

"From a day to day perspective, Abi Burton, because she coached me at college in my first year at college a year ago, and I’ve really respected her, and she’s coming a bit more to the limelight now, because of the Red Roses. I just really respect her drive and her ambition because I’ve been training at Trailfinders, and obviously she’s at Trailfinders, and just talking to her, to talking to her on a one-to-one basis, her drive and her mindset is like something that I really sort of strive for.  

"Obviously she’s a back row but as a hooker, it can be a bit similar, where she's that power player and can just power through contact, and she will just get shots on people left and right. And her style of play, I resonate with that. And that’s the kind of player I want to be, five years down the line, or whatever it is. Mindset wise as well, she really does inspire me in that sense as well." 

As mentioned, Jones sees her own game as a very powerful one and describes herself as a player who wants to physically assert herself on the opposition, an attribute seen with most high-level hookers. She said: "I think there’s nothing better on the pitch than just absolutely smashing someone." 

With the Ealing player being captain for the U18 Red Roses in the Six Nations Festival at Wellington College and having increased responsibility around the place, she described how she sees her personality as being off the pitch. 

"I’m definitely not the loudest, but I’m not the quietest. I’m sort of that midway between. I do love being in a big group getting given the captaincy this year has also brought me out my shell a lot more as well. Because I’m captain for my college as well.  

"It’s forced me to become more confident in a really good way. And it’s allowed me to have the opportunity to just be myself, because I have no other choice. Because if I’m not being myself, if I’m closed off, then what message does that give to the other girls about what they can be like? I like to think I’m in between quite kind of bubbly, a bit goofy sometimes, that kind of person." 

Head Coach James Cooper has put a lot of faith in Jones by making her captain, the hooker reflected on her appointment and why she believes she was chosen for the role. 

"Last year I was in the leadership group with England, on the pitch I'm quite loud. And I think I’ve got quite a good tactical brain when it comes to rugby. It’s just from watching so much of it and being so interested in some of the stupid little laws and things like that. But my tactical brain, in that sense, I think helps me, and also just being able to help others, I’m quite good at recognising when someone might need a bit extra help, and then I can just give them a little push in sort of the right direction.  

"I think I am getting the opportunity because I had some leadership roles within England. It's a good progression from last year to this year. I get told that I’m quite a natural leader, and it might just be how I carry myself as well, but I’m very confident in who I am. That’s a good thing for other people to see, I guess." 

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You have six minutes, good luck!

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