RFU vows to change tack and put women on professional terms

The Rugby Football Union has declared its ambition to fully professionalise the women’s game in England.

Telegraph Sport revealed in April that the governing body was considering a dramatic about-turn to reinstate contracts for women’s XVS players.

This was after their decision to axe them after the World Cup last year was widely denounced.

The RFU instead offered professional contracts to the England Women’s Sevens side ahead of the recent Rugby World Cup in San Francisco, where they finished ninth.

Three MPS led the criticism of the move at the time, with Tonia Antoniazzi, a former Wales international, describing it as a “huge blow” to the women’s game.

England ultimately lost to New Zealand in the World Cup final. A record television audience of 2.65million tuned in to watch that 15-a-side match, which was broadcast in the prime-time Saturday evening slot on ITV last year.

Combined with a revamped domestic women’s competition – the Tyrrells Premier 15s, won by Saracens, it prompted the RFU to review their original decision.

Steve Brown, the RFU chief executive, revealed yesterday that the governing body’s intention now was for professional contracts to be offered to both the England Women’s XVS and sevens sides and a deal could be completed next season, despite the RFU’S current financial pressures.

England’s women finished ninth at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in California earlier this month after the RFU awarded 17 contracts to support the programme for the 2017-18 season.

“One of the decisions we are making at the moment – let’s be clear, our ambition is to have fully contracted professional sevens and XVS stand-alone and fully contracted – it is just a matter of prioritisation and timing,” said Brown.

“So how quickly can we liberate the money would determine when we make the decision.

“We are not at the point where we fully commercialise or are about to commercialise the women’s game. We are starting together. The Tyrrells Premiership is a great example.”

Asked if the squad for England’s autumn series would be professional, Brown added: “That depends on this discussion we are having at the moment; this prioritisation exercise.”