Rugby revolution Women to be paid to play by clubs for the first time
Breakthrough is big step towards professionalism Pioneers pledge to learn from men’s switch in ‘95
‘We have to be aware fees will not be huge, but it is a right step on the way’
Female players at English clubs are being paid to play for the first time, The Daily Telegraph can reveal, in a move which has echoes of the transition of the men’s game to professionalism in 1995.
Saracens and Worcester are paying players from this season, while Harlequins are supporting members of their squad by covering accommodation costs. Saracens, the Premier 15s champions, are paying retainers to some players, including those contracted centrally by the Rugby Football Union, as part of an ambitious development plan, while all members of the match-day squad will receive fees.
The Telegraph understands that the Saracens contracts are in the region of £12,000-£15,000, while the fee per match is thought to be £200-£250. Worcester Warriors Women, who finished bottom in the past two seasons, are offering match fees of £150-£250 depending on experience. These groundbreaking pay-to-play deals at club level come just nine months after the RFU reintroduced full-time contracts for 28 players.
Laura Eddie, the Saracens director of women’s sport, believes that the injection of money is similar to that in the men’s game almost 25 years ago but expects there to be benefits of hindsight.
“This could be women’s rugby’s 1995, but we are in a good position that we can learn a lot of lessons from that crossover, that is why we want to be smart about how we spend our money,” she said. “It is about that long-term vision of developing the staff and infrastructure and making sure the players are well looked after.”
Saracens and England full-back Sarah Mckenna acknowledges that the financial offering is relatively small but believes it is a move towards a fully professional league, such as football’s Women’s Super League. “We are at the very early stages of our professional development, people are getting very excited. We have to be aware that the retainer and match fees are not going to cover huge amounts but it is a step in the right direction towards even more professionalisation,” she said.
While Mckenna can afford to be a full-time rugby player as she would earn £24,000-£28,000 from the RFU on top of her Saracens contract, the availability of these deals means that players outside the international elite can start to see a professional career as a reality.
“We weren’t even talking about this three years ago, but it could be a possibility in the future that people won’t need those jobs outside rugby. If this is the first step, who is to say what could happen in a few years’ time,” Mckenna said.
Eddie added: “This is our first year, our aspiration would be to
support as many players as we possibly can with retainers and it will be an evolution. It comes back to sustainability; if we can retain and recruit a team that is performing on the pitch, people are going to want to watch and that will be invested back into the club. Agents are slowly starting to creep in but it is not as prevalent as where we will be in five or 10 years’ time.”
In April, The Telegraph broke the news that Saracens, along with Bristol Bears, were offering players contracts that would tie them to the club for the season, with benefits such as increased medical and strength and conditioning provision, as well as providing nutrition supplements.
Worcester have not contracted players and they will be free to change clubs during a season, as are other Premier 15s players. Worcester have been rebranded as Worcester Warriors Women from Worcester Valkyries because of increased alignment with the men’s side, with the club owners providing increased investment.
The Premier 15s was founded in 2017 with crisp manufacturer Tyrrells as the title sponsor.
Despite the positive aspects, there could be fears about an uneven playing field developing. Sides aligned to men’s Premiership clubs are likely to have the best chance of becoming professional, as the examples of Saracens and Worcester show.
Exeter Chiefs yesterday announced the formation of a professional women’s side, who will tender for a place in next season’s Premier 15s. The promotion and relegation criteria will not be based on on-field performance but on minimum standards such as health, strength and conditioning, as well as contingency for media and marketing.
Harlequins players do not have contracts but were the first club to align closely to their men’s side, with Paul Gustard taking the women for a training session last season. Quins were also the first club to promote their women’s side in billboards alongside their male players. While not paying, the club provide accommodation in many cases and actively help players seek employment opportunities.
The Telegraph understands some people in the sport believe players could be offered £30,000 contracts within three years, while others believe it could take a decade.