IT’S JUST a little too early to predict that the growing success of the now professional women’s arm of the sport could be used to financially bail out the struggling men’s pro game. But the time when rugby for women at the top level pays for itself may not be long delayed, and especially so in England.
And the sheer joy in the reaction of England squad players to the new contract arrangements announced by the RFU recently spoke volumes. “It is a great development and a reflection of how far things have moved on in the womens’ game,” said Sarah Bern, that phenomenon of nature who appears able to blast opposing props out of the contest while moving around the field at the speed of light.
England’s new contracts are fascinating. The names of the 32 players who will be contracted will be announced in July and contracts will be for up to three years – previously, almost all the deals
