Meg Jones, born and raised in Cardiff and a fluent Welsh speaker, will lead England against her home nation in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday. The Red Roses captain reflects on a journey that began with a pivotal trial for Cardiff Schoolboys Under-12 team, where she was the only girl.
"It was just one of those turning points in your journey," Jones told BBC Sport. "I had trialled the year before and not got in. That was the first time I'd ever faced some sort of rejection."
Jones believes the initial selection was influenced by family wealth, but she proved that talent transcends background. "My dad was a pipefitter welder from Cardiff, so I was part of a very working-class family. The team I played for - Glamorgan Wanderers - were from a very low socio-economic area in Cardiff, called Ely."
Years later, a teammate revealed the truth. "He said: 'You know, I was meant to be selected for that, but you were so good they had to pick you.'" That moment cemented Jones's belief: "If you're good enough, you're good enough. No matter where you're from, what you look like, what gender you are, whether you're big, small, all these things, if you're good enough, you will be respected."
Jones, who moved to Hartpury College aged 16 and has English heritage through her mother, has become a dual-nation icon. Her former teacher Gwennan Harries recalled: "I heard about her pretty quickly because she played in the boys team and she did carry the team a little bit. The boys actually loved her."
Now, as England captain, Jones prepares to face Wales at Ashton Gate on Saturday. The match will air live on BBC Two and iPlayer.