Rugby union: New Zealand's national women's side receive historic paid contracts

Thirty women will be offered up to NZ$45,000 contractsMaternity leave entitlements to encourage return to gameTwenty-three years after men’s rugby union was made professional, New Zealand’s national women’s team – the Black Ferns – will be offered paid contracts for the first time, valued at up to NZ$45,000 inclusive of allowances and other payments.England had previously funded a professional women’s XV ahead of last year’s Rugby World Cup, however that funding has now been diverted to rugby sevens. Related: Women’s rugby takes leap forward with start of Super W | Jill Scanlon It's Internatio…