Jade Konkel


Jade Elizabeth Konkel-Roberts, known professionally as Jade Konkel, is a professional rugby union player. She currently plays for Harlequins Women in the PWR, having joined the team in 2018 and been appointed club captain in 2023. Konkel also played for the Scotland women's national [rugby union team|Scotland women's national team] from 2013 to 2025, after which she retired from international rugby. Konkel plays in the position of Number 8.

Club career

After moving to Glasgow to attend university, Konkel played for Hillhead Jordanhill Rugby Football Club. Konkel became Scottish Rugby's first full-time female player in the summer of 2016.
Konkel joined French club Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois ahead of the 2017/18 season, while still remaining a Stage 3 supported player in Scottish Rugby's Academy.
Konkel left Lille for London-based side Harlequins ahead of the 2018/19 season to play Premiership Women’s Rugby for Harlequins Women. She was named captain ahead of the 2023/2024 season.

International career

Konkel made her Scotland Women debut against England on 2nd February 2013 when she came on as a replacement for Mary Lafaiki in the first game of the 2013 [Women's Six Nations Championship|2013 Women's Six Nations] at Molesey Road, Surrey.
Her first try for her country came in 2015 when she scored against Italy in the Six Nations clash at Broadwood Stadium.
Konkel was included in Scotland's squad for the 2021 World Cup in New Zealand, starting all three games.
Konkel was named in Scotland's squad for the 2025 Six Nations Championship. She was also selected in the Scottish side for the 2025 [Women's Rugby World Cup] in England.
Konkel retired from international rugby in 2025 following the Rugby World Cup.

Playing style

Konkel is known as a hard carrying, physical player. In the opening rounds of the 2020 Six Nations, she carried a combined 55 times which was over 20 carries more than any other player over the first two rounds of the tournament.

Education

Konkel graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University with a DipHE in Social Work in 2017

Other sports

Konkel played basketball for Highland Bears and had two seasons in the national league.
She represented Scotland in athletics for the army cadets and won two gold medals in 2008/09 for shot put and discus respectively. In 2008, Konkel gained her black belt in the martial art Goshin-Ryu Kempo.

Personal life

Born in Inverness, and brought up on the Black Isle, Konkel grew up in a rugby family. Her family played with Inverness Craig Dunain Rugby Football Club.
Konkel is a vegan. She is also a qualified personal trainer, rugby coach, and gym instructor.
Outside of rugby, Konkel works as a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade. She married her partner Helen, a secondary school English teacher, in 2022.