Investment in the pro ranks is great news for women’s game

professional ranks – Jade Konkel, Chloe Rollie and Lisa Thomson, who recently joined French side LMRCV as part of a performance partnership between the academy and the French Top 8 runners-up.

While the tie up with the French club seems a bizarre connection, what is key is the impact on the international side.

For years, the Scottish women have been the whipping boys of the Six Nations.

Yet, in February, they won their first match in seven years, defeating Wales and backing that up with a second win over Italy and a very close match against Ireland.

The Scots finished in a very respectable position in the table and, despite two hefty defeats to England and France, will only improve.

Had the qualification campaign for the Women’s World Cup taken place 12 months later, Scotland would have stood a very good chance of making the tournament, based on their results in this most recent season.

So having more full-time players can only be good.

The preparation for matches – physical and mental – will be better than ever before.

It will be interesting to see the impact on the English ranks as they go in the opposite direction.

Scotland might be hamstrung by the lack of quality players who might merit a professional contract, but it is good to see that the SRU is investing in the women’s game.

It is bound to translate into more great results.