RFU’s Ian Ritchie defends decision not to renew England women’s contracts

• Ritchie writes letter to shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan• Contracts will expire after World Cup with focus shifting to sevensIan Ritchie, chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, has written to shadow sports minister Dr Rosena Allin-Khan to defend the decision to not renew the contracts of the England Women’s 15-a-side team.Dr Allin-Khan wrote to Ritchie last week to urge him to reconsider the move as it suggested the RFU was “far less than fully committed” to the women’s game. This letter, signed by 124 MPs from across the political spectrum, was sparked by news that the con…