Neve Jones
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}{{Infobox rugby biography
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|12|26|df=y}}
| birth_place = County Antrim, Northern Ireland
| weight = 72kg
| height = 157cm
| position = Hooker, Flanker
| clubs1 = Malone RFC
| clubs2 = Ulster
| clubs3 = Gloucester-Hartpury
| years1 = 2014-2022
| years2 = 2015
| years3 = 2022-
| apps1 =
| reppoints1 = 60
| repcaps1 = 30
| repteam1 = {{nwrut|Ireland}}
| repyears1 = 2020–present
| points1 = 120
| amatteam1 = Ballymena
| amatyears1 = 2003-2010
| repsevensteam1 = {{nwrut7|Ireland}}
| repsevensyears1 =
| repsevenscomp1 = 0
}}
Neve Jones (born 26 December 1998) is an Irish rugby player from Ballymena. She plays for Gloucester-Hartpury, Ulster and the Ireland women's national rugby union team.
Club career
Jones started playing rugby at age 6, through mini rugby in her local club Ballymena RFC. There was no girls' rugby in her schools Cambridge House Grammar School and Ballymena Academy. Neve's attempts to launch it at both schools were rejected by the schools so she joined Malone RFC when she was 14.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-19|title=Behind the player: Neve Jones|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2020/06/behind-the-player-neve-jones/|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Ulster Rugby|language=en-US}}
She captained the Ulster U18s to the first Irish U18 Provincial trophy in 2016.{{Cite web|date=2016-10-03|title=Ulster U18 Girls win first ever Inter-Pro title|url=https://www.ulsterrugby.com/2016/10/ulster-u18-girls-win-first-ever-inter-pro-title/|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Ulster Rugby|language=en-US}}
Jones was Malone's top try-scorer in 2019 and the winner of the 2020 Energia Women's All Ireland League Rising Star Award.Ulster under 18 player of the year.{{Cite web|title=Neve Jones dreaming of pulling on green jersey for Ireland|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/neve-jones-dreaming-pulling-green-jersey-ireland-2943821|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.newsletter.co.uk|language=en}}
On 7 January 2022, Gloucester-Hartpury announced that they'd signed Jones to their squad.{{Cite web |title=Gloucester-Hartpury sign Irish international Neve Jones |url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/news/gloucester-hartpury-sign-irish-international-neve-jones |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=Gloucester Rugby |language=en}}
International career
Jones first got selected to the Ireland women's national rugby union team in 2020, making her the first female international player to represent Malone RFC.{{Cite news|title='Players can aspire to emulate Jones'|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53791109|access-date=2021-05-18}}
She made her debut as a replacement versus Italy, in the 2020 Women's Six Nations.{{Cite news|title=Determined Ireland beat Italy in Dublin|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54677410|access-date=2021-05-18}}
In the 2021 Women's Six Nations, she played as a replacement, versus Wales.{{Cite web|last=Cummiskey|first=Gavin|title=Ireland make loud statement of intent as they crush Wales in Cardiff|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-make-loud-statement-of-intent-as-they-crush-wales-in-cardiff-1.4534264|access-date=2021-05-18|website=The Irish Times|language=en}} She was named in Ireland's XVs side for the 2025 Six Nations Championship in March.{{Cite web |date=11 February 2025 |title=Bemand Names Ireland Preparation Squad For Guinness Women's Six Nations |url=https://www.irishrugby.ie/2025/02/11/bemand-names-ireland-preparation-squad-for-guinness-womens-six-nations/ |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=Irish Rugby}}{{Cite web |date=12 February 2025 |title=Bemand announces Ireland's squad for Guinness Women's Six Nations |url=https://www.sixnationsrugby.com/en/w6n/news/bemand-announces-irelands-squad-for-guinness-womens-six-nations |access-date=19 March 2025 |website=Six Nations Rugby}}
Personal life
Jones is studying sports coaching at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown.
Before she played rugby she was involved in swimming, netball and jiu jitsu.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} She took up ladies gaelic football in 2020 and plays for East Belfast GFC, the first GAA team to be set up there in nearly 50 years.{{Cite news|title=East Belfast GAA providing new sporting love for Ireland rugby star Jones|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gaelic-games/54390377|access-date=2021-05-18}}
Honours
- 2020 Energia Women's All Ireland League Rising Star Award
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.irishrugby.ie/women/neve-jones/ Irish Rugby Profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Neve}}
Category:Irish female rugby union players
Category:Ireland women's international rugby union players
Category:Ireland international women's rugby sevens players
Category:Irish rugby sevens players
Category:Gloucester-Hartpury Women players
Category:Rugby union players from Ballymena
Category:People educated at Ballymena Academy
Category:People educated at Cambridge House Grammar School