Welsh women rugby players are to receive full professional contracts, but only up to ten of them. Up to fifteen more will be offered retainers. They come into effect at the start of next year.
Precise details are yet to be provided, but this amounts to an enormous step forward for a squad that has suffered deprivation and neglect more than most.
Gemma Hallett is one happy ex-international.
It’s a daunting thought for Wales’ future opponents, in the Six Nations and beyond. When they at last receive the full support systems the men’s squad enjoys, facing the red jersey will be a matter of concern and doubt.
A whole new structure needs putting in place to ensure that the current elite players will be followed by younger generations who have enjoyed a full and proper pathway to the top of the tree. Under 18 and Under 20 squads will be (re-)developed, as is only right and proper. But they will take time to flourish.
Sooner or later there will be full 6 Nations contests in both those age-groups, but not just yet.
A major aim must be to organise clubs and regions inside the principality so that their best players can perform there, not over the bridge. The sooner all those Welsh players now being forced to play in the English Premier 15s can prosper at home the better.
The pace-setters in the contract game, the English. also used two (or more) categories of payment in the early stages. They bring their difficulties: out trots the team consisting of 10 full-time pros and 5 part-time. The five may be perfectly happy with the arrangement, able to carry on with their regular employment while still representing their country, but a sense of total unity is lost.
And the annual awarding of contracts is a major snag. A player gives up her job to enjoy a full-time contract; a year later it is withdrawn. There is no cushion within the game to soften the blow.
Now here’s an invitation to all Welsh rugby supporters: pick the ten lucky recipients. Do you all agree?
