RFU to award 15s contracts for England Women

The Rugby Football Union is to introduce women’s full-time 15s contracts this season underlining its commitment to the long-term growth of women’s rugby.

There will be 28 full-time contracts available to England Women, which will come into effect on 1 January. The Quilter Internationals will be played under the existing EPS agreement.

The 28 contracts will be supplemented by seven elite player squad (EPS) agreements, meaning a total EPS of 35.

"We are delighted to be able to offer full-time contracts to our 15s players," said RFU Chief Executive Steve Brown.

"This has long been our ambition and demonstrates the RFU’s commitment to growing the women’s game and the belief we have in the future of the sport.
 
“We are at a tipping point for women’s rugby globally and it is our ambition to be world number one and drive growth at every level. As an organisation, from top to bottom, we are very much behind this and want to see the continued expansion and growth to realise the ambitious targets we have set ourselves.”

With immediate effect, the squad will be based Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre during core periods, providing a permanent base within a high performance training centre.