SCOTTISH Rugby is to offer at least 30 contracts to its leading female players after this year’s World Cup as part of a new four-year strategy to grow the women’s and girls’ game. Investment in that side of the sport as a whole will increase by £2.5million next year (2022-23) to just over £4m, it is planned to set up two semi-professional sides and three new regional training centres, and fresh targets have been set for the national women’s team on everything from attendance at home games to performance in leading tournaments.
Rather than having a one-size-fits-all approach to contracts, the governing body will offer players a variety of contractual options, recognising that some will not want to give up their careers elsewhere. Forwards Jade Konkel, Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcolm, for example, are all key members of head coach Bryan Easson’s squad, but have jobs away from the game. Nonetheless, the agreement of such a large number of contracts will ensure that the national team is closer than it has ever been to full-time professional status - and go some way to answering a groundswell of voices demanding more support for the women’s game.
