Megan Jones and Zoe Harrison nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year

Red Roses captain Megan Jones has been nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year for the second year running. She is one of two England players on the four-player shortlist announced on Monday 26 October, with the winner to be revealed this weekend.

Jones is joined by England fly-half Zoe Harrison, Canada prop DaLeaka Menin and New Zealand back-row Kaipo Olsen-Baker.

Megan Jones: Second nomination in a row

Jones was shortlisted last year too, when she lost out to Canada’s Sophie de Goede. This year she has taken on the Red Roses captaincy while Zoe Stratford is away becoming a new mum, and she led England to an eighth consecutive Women’s Six Nations title.

World Rugby described the Trailfinders centre as a key figure in the Red Roses backline, praising her versatility, attacking threat and defence throughout 2026, as well as her influence with and without the ball.

World Rugby Women’s 15s Player of the Year 2026 nominees

• Megan Jones (England) – Red Roses captain and centre
• Zoe Harrison (England) – Fly-half, praised for her game management, tactical kicking and a match-winning interception try against New Zealand in September
• DaLeaka Menin (Canada) – Tight-head prop who has won two WXV Global Series Player of the Week awards this autumn
• Kaipo Olsen-Baker (New Zealand) – Black Ferns back-row, recognised for her ball-carrying, athleticism and work rate

The panel also gave special commendations to Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and New Zealand pair Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu and Elinor-Plum King.

England v Canada adds an edge to the award

The timing is notable. Menin was among Canada’s try scorers as they beat England 31-22 in Ottawa on Friday, inflicting the Red Roses’ first back-to-back defeats since 2016. Canada have now gone unbeaten in three meetings with the world champions this year, and Jones has insisted her side are “not broken”.

Breakthrough Player of the Year shortlist

The Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year shortlist features four players from four nations:

• Pauline Barrat (France)
• Elinor-Plum King (New Zealand)
• Amelia Whitaker (Australia)
• Bella Vogel (USA)

Across both awards, the eight nominees come from six nations. World Rugby chair Brett Robinson said the quality of this year’s nominees reflects the talent and ambition driving women’s rugby forward.

Abi Burton up for Try of the Year

England also feature on the International Rugby Players’ Women’s 15s Try of the Year shortlist. Abi Burton’s score against Australia in the WXV Global Series on 12 September is up against:

• Léa Champon – France v Scotland, 9 May
• Pauline Bourdon Sansus – France v England, 17 May
• Olivia Apps – Canada v England, 19 September

World Rugby Awards 2026: Key dates

Date	Event
Monday 26 October	Nominees announced, Try of the Year fan vote opens
Wednesday 28 October	Try of the Year fan vote closes
This weekend	Player and Breakthrough Player of the Year winners revealed
Monday 2 November	Women’s 15s Dream Team of the Year unveiled

Fans can vote for Try of the Year on World Rugby’s social media channels. The trophies will be presented after the players’ final WXV Global Series matches. For England, that is against the USA in New Jersey on Friday 30 October (9.15pm GMT).

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