Neve Jones dreaming of pulling on green jersey for Ireland

The 21-year-old front-rower took a step closer to that aspiration when named in Ireland coach Adam Griggs’ 36-strong squad for the re-scheduled Six Nations games with Italy and France in late October.

Jones’ club form has propelled her to the verge of international recognition. She was Malone’s top try-scorer last season and scooped the Women’s All Ireland League Rising Star Award.

“I remember when I was nine or 10 going to an Ireland v England Six Nations Women’s game and being able to watch all those women pull on the green jersey and play against England,” said Jones.

“There was nothing better than seeing that at nine or 10 and it made what I wanted to do playing on a pitch on a Saturday morning become more of a reality. To pull on the green jersey is the dream for sure.”

Jones had been in the squad for the original games in March.

“I’m delighted to get back down to training and get back into the set-up with all they have down there and build on what I did before lockdown,” she said.

“You learn so much from each session you’re there and you can see and feel yourself getting better and better and learning more and more each time you are there,” said Jones, who took up rugby at a young age.

“My dad took me down to Ballymena when I was six or seven and I played there until I was about 11 and then I had no rugby until I was about 14 when I went to a summer camp.

“The guy running the summer camp put me in touch with one of the coaches at Malone and I have been there ever since.

“My dad played rugby growing up then he stopped, now it is just me (playing in the family); everyone in my family is so supportive. My mum would drive me the length and breath of the country to get me to a training session.”

Jones took an instant liking to the game.

“I was the only girl training with all the boys, we played tag in P3 and then contact from P4 to P7 and it was all good fun.

“I think I just got stuck in, I was very quiet as a child and rugby has kind of brought me out of my shell a bit.

“I enjoyed the physicality of the game and the contact of rugby compared to other sports I’d played (swimming, netball and jiu jitsu). I liked the challenge and each game is different - you never know what is going to happen and how to adapt to that was a challenge and I was always up for the challenge.

“I love playing in the front row you are always stuck in the action and there is always something to do,” said Jones.

“Growing up, the first player I remember wanting to be like was Johnny Wilkinson; I was definitely never going to be a back and I didn’t have his kicking ability!

“It changed from Johnny Wilkson to realising about female rugby players like Vicky Fleetwood (England World Cup winner).”

Jones has honed her skills at Malone - where she is coached by former Ireland international Grace Davitt - and is in line to be the club’s first Women’s international.

“It would be a huge honour, I would just love to do all the girls and everyone else at Malone proud so I just have to keep me head down and try and do my best.

“Malone is a great club and they have supported me from the get-go and have helped me with anything I have needed.

“Grace is a great coach, she has helped all the girls improve week in week out on all their skills, passing, kicking and all that sort of stuff and teaching us the best she can to get us to the best players we can.”

Malone played in the All Ireland League last season for the first time and while results didn’t go their way, Jones is hoping the side can take on the lessons for new season.

“We definitely learned a thing or two about playing, the difference between AIL and Division One, it was a tough year and the girls definitely learned loads and we will only get stronger as a team. I can’t wait for that challenge this season.”