HARD HIT TING VIEW

FANS who dismiss the women’s game should go back and watch last month’s Rugby World Cup Final, when England were outgunned by New Zealand.

It was a cracking match, full of power, pace and skill, and an outstanding advertisement for the game – irrespective of gender.

For the English players, who were attempting to defend their trophy, it was an even more bitter defeat as they knew it would be their last game as full-time professionals.

At the start of the tournament, the RFU announced that it wasn’t going to renew their 15-a-side squad’s contracts, instead focusing on the sevens game. It was a real kick in the teeth. So it was encouraging to see the SRU going in the opposite direction and increasing the number of paid players in the women’s game, as last week Sarah Law was confirmed as Scotland’s fourth full-time professional.

Law will play her club rugby for Murrayfield Wanderers and Edinburgh University, while completing her part-time studies.

Law joins three other Scots among the