Twenty-five Wales Women rugby players have been awarded full-time professional contracts by the Welsh Rugby Union for 2023.
It is more than double the number of the historic first 12 full-time contracts which were handed out 14 months ago in January 2022. A dozen players initially went pro, along with a number of players on semi-pro deals, while a total of 29 players were full-time for the latter half of 2022 to prepare for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, where Wales exited at the quarter-final stages after losing to eventual winners New Zealand.
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham, who is on board through to the 2025 World Cup, will now have a full-time squad of 25 to work with ahead of the upcoming TikTok Women's Six Nations, with Wales opening their campaign against Ireland at Cardiff Arms Park on March 25.
Wales finished third in 2022, their best finish since 2009, and drew in record crowds to the Arms Park. However, last year it was just England, France and Wales who enjoyed some form of professionalism, while this year every side will go into the tournament with a pro contract arrangement in place.
The WRU said it was proud to underline its commitment to Wales Women with the contracts announcement.
It comes at a time when formal contract offers have either been made or are soon to be made to Welsh rugby's regional players following a recruitment and retainment freeze brought about by a dispute between the WRU and regions over a long-term funding framework for Welsh rugby. The sums of money involved in contracting Wales Women players, however, will be vastly different on the whole than with their regional counterparts.
Wales flanker Alex Callender, utility back Lowri Norkett, centre Megan Webb and fly-half/full-back Robyn Wilkins have moved to full-time deals from part-time last year, while centre Carys Williams-Morris continues thanks to her employer, the RAF.
Acting WRU chief executive Nigel Walker, formerly performance director who oversaw the programme's venture into professionalism, said: "Our stated aim is to put everything in place to create a world-class international programme for women in Wales. The investment we put into the national programme last year paid clear dividends both on the field in terms of performances and results, and off it in terms of the all-round athlete development service provided within the programme. It’s important we don’t stand still and we believe the enhanced investment in the programme this year will go some way, not only to developing these players, but others who join the squad for training and tournaments."
Wales boss Cunningham said: "We are thrilled to be able to reward these players for the commitment and level of performance and professionalism they showed throughout last year. We have reviewed and tweaked the contract model for the next period in our journey and it’s great to be able to reward these players with new contracts.
"Our aim this year will be to continue to build on the improvements we made in 2022. We’ve made progress but we are very aware that all the other nations are also developing with contracts and full-time programmes so it’s vital to keep moving forward.
"However, we also have one eye on developing the next wave of players ahead of the next Rugby World Cup in 2025. It is a very exciting time for women’s rugby in Wales. The new Celtic Challenge, the U20s and U18s programmes are just some of the initiatives unearthing talented players who will no doubt put their hands up for international selection before long."
Wales Women's full-time professionals for 2023:
Abbie Fleming, Cerys Hale, Kerin Lake, Lleucu George, Lowri Norkett, Megan Webb, Niamh Terry, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis, Georgia Evans, Gwenllian Pyrs, Keira Bevan, Kelsey Jones, Natalia John, Elinor Snowsill, Alisha Butchers, Carys Phillips, Donna Rose, Ffion Lewis, Gwen Crabb, Hannah Jones, Lisa Neumann, Robyn Wilkins, Carys Williams-Morris (with RAF elite athlete status).
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