The chief executive of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) has revealed plans to make the women’s game fully professional.
RFU chief Steve Brown told the BBC that professional status in women’s rugby could be introduced as early as this season.
Despite reaching the 2017 World Cup final, where they lost to New Zealand, contracts were not renewed for the England women’s 15-a-side squad. The BBC reports that priority was given to the England women’s sevens game.
rown told the BBC: “Our ambition is to professionalise both the XVs and sevens game during the coming season. We’ve had a half-and-half situation for the last couple of seasons but we will professionalise both games as quickly as we can possibly afford it.”
On the past decision to focus on sevens and not 15s, Brown added: “The sevens contracts was a compromise position. We want to get both of them fully established, but one key thing is we need to have enough players in the system to make it work which is why growing participation is so key, we need talent coming through.”