Assistant sports editor, The Observer | Author of The Red Roses, Behind The Scenes with the England Women’s Rugby Team. Link below 📚| Tweets mainly about rugby
Joined February 2013
- Tweets 24,111
- Following 3,083
- Followers 10,584
- Likes 27,494
2,743 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
30 Mar 2025
Some work news: in a couple of weeks, I will become the assistant sports editor at The Observer.
It’s a hugely exciting time for the paper and I’m thrilled to be part of the team there! 📰
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
Early hours and early promise: Scotland get the party started
A 2am local kick-off time can’t dim the nation’s enthusiasm for its first World Cup win in 30 years, finds @_JessHayden as she joins the celebrations
bit.ly/4xuaf3q
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No Scotland no party? After sending the paper to print last night, I flew to Edinburgh to watch Scotland’s first World Cup match since 1998 with the Tartan Army
observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
It's an astonishing fact about 1966 that McCartney, Jagger and Ray Davies, who were stars 60 years ago, are still going strong.
From England's team, only Geoff Hurst survives.
I wrote about England, then and now, for The Observer's World Cup package..
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Beautiful @LWMVC concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Always love seeing @ElganTimes perform ♥️
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Got 61 of my colleagues and friends to come to the cricket with me and I’m very happy about it @ObserverUK 🩷
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Ellie Kildunne is expected to make an announcement on her future very soon!👀
Watch her full interview with @BBCBreakfast on BBC iPlayer💻
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 27
Congratulations, Jo Yapp! 👏
The former Red Roses captain has been appointed Head Coach of the first British & Irish Lions Women’s team for their landmark series in New Zealand in 2027 🦁
Jo will take a sabbatical from her role as Head of Women’s Pathway at England Rugby to lead the Tour and will work part time for the Lions from July before taking on the role in a full-time capacity from January.
ALT British & Irish Lions women's head coach: Jo Yapp.
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 10
Billy Vunipola is in a good place. We discussed:
- Why he won’t play for Tonga at next year’s World Cup
- His leadership role at Montpellier compared to at Saracens
- What led to his arrest in Mallorca and how it changed him
Interview for @ObserverUK. observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 22
𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉, 𝑻𝒂𝒕𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒂, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒁𝒐𝒆.
Gloucester Hartpury can confirm that Sarah Beckett, Tatyana Heard, and Zoe Stratford OBE, will leave the Club at the end of the season to pursue fresh challenges.
Supporters will have the opportunity to give Becks, Tat and Zo the send-off they deserve at our semi-final fixture.
Secure your tickets and join us in thanking three outstanding stalwarts of the Club.
🔗 bit.ly/QueensholmTix
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 21
After Steve Borthwick's comments earlier this week, what does England's backline look like moving forward? With @CharlieFelix. youtube.com/watch?v=6z6BIsZZ…
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
Is the Enhanced Games a symptom of the malaise at the heart of anti-doping or just a cynical opportunistic exploitation of disillusioned athletes?
My investigation with @cmbreports for @ObserverUK is now live 👇👇👇
open.spotify.com/episode/2x1…
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 18
Piece from Bordeaux. England and France served up the kind of tension the Women's Six Nations desperately needs moving forward.
"Somebody’s going to get us," John Mitchell said last week. It might take a while. observer.co.uk/news/sport/ar…
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 18
The danger with England’s dominance is forgetting how exceptional it is.
Another Women’s Six Nations title was secured under real pressure, where France illuminated both England’s vulnerabilities and their enduring strengths, writes Ben Coles from Bordeuax.
✍️ Ben Coles
bit.ly/3PcJTSy
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May 14
Incredible evening at @allianz_stad trying the Michelin-star food on offer at the stadium ♥️
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Jessica Hayden retweeted
May 9
NOT FOR SALE: GET HARBORNE OUT
Pick up a copy of the Observer tomorrow - available nationwide - and subscribe on our website:
bit.ly/4spzX71
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I’m looking for a chief sub-editor for the sports desk at @ObserverUK.
If you have experience leading production for a desk at a national newspaper, please apply.
It’s a Thursday-Saturday role 🗞️
careers.observer.co.uk/jobs/…
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Answering some FAQs from my DMs:
- It’s office based, just by Oxford Street in London, but with flexible working available
- I am looking for someone to start ASAP
- We use InDesign/InCopy
- The hours: flexible on Thurs/Fri but usually 10-6. Saturday is 12-8 or 2-10
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It is a great place to work. It’s social, supportive and collaborative. We are a small team so you will be involved in all we do and you will help shape our output. (There’s also pizza a lot. Sometimes there are dogs. The snacks are great. There’s a group chat dedicated to pubs)
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Did you finish the 2026 London Marathon?
If you did, you will be named in a 48-page souvenir supplement in this week’s @ObserverUK!
Your name, time, and bib number will be listed!
Pick up a copy this Sunday 🗞️
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Apr 27
London Marathon ✅
Completed it with the most special people by my side… ♥️
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