England centre Meg Jones says she is finding “peace in the pain” after suffering the loss of both parents in quick succession.

Jones’ father passed away from lung cancer last summer and four months later, her mother died.

“It’s just been tough,” the 21-times capped Red Rose, told BBC Radio Leicester.

“Just getting your head around things, trying to see lights, hope is kind of the only thing you can hold onto.”

The 28 year-old is still making arrangements for her mum’s funeral and has chosen to keep playing for her club side Leicester Tigers Women.

Jones, one of 32 centrally-contracted England women’s players, missed the September internationals and successful WXV title defence with an ankle injury.

She started four of England’s five games in last year’s Six Nations, forming a first-choice midfield partnership with Gloucester-Hartpury’s Tatyana Heard.

“My mum and dad brought me up to work hard and understand that not everything is permanent, things are temporary and emotion is one of them,” she added.

“You might feel sad one day but you know, if you ride the wave, you’ll pass it.

“I’m doing a lot of work on myself to try and get through this period. I’ve got an amazing support network around me, in my partner Celia, in my friends at home in Cardiff.

“It is just amazing to have those people around me, as well as my team-mates of course.”

After picking up their first home PWR win of the season with a 38-17 victory over Sale Sharks women, Jones explained how much rugby had helped her in recent weeks and months.

“What I love about rugby is that no one really mentions it,” she added.

“They tell me they’re there, but ultimately we just want to get on that pitch and win.

“That’s what I love. It’s kind of an escape for me, and it keeps me on the straight path with purpose because that’s what we want as humans – a connection and purpose – and rugby’s given me that.

“It’s allowed me to fight this adversity really, really well.”

England’s women are at the start of a potentially momentous year.

Having won 50 of their past 51 matches, they are hot favourites to lift the World Cup, which begins on home soil in August. They will also be aiming for a fourth successive Six Nations Grand Slam in the spring.

However Jones is also focusing on pacing herself as she continues to grieve.

“I got injured four days after my dad passed away,” she said.

“That was just the universe saying ‘look, hey slow down you don’t have to go full steaming into everything.’

“My New Year’s resolution is to slow down, eat in, wash my hair, take my time, read books, not getting too caught up on everything. This is a game, it gives me purpose, it gives me a straight path, but I’m not defined by it.

“There’s peace within pain. This is a big year from a Roses’ point of view, but I just want to take each day as it comes.”