WRU says new deals make Wales among 'best paid women's teams'

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has agreed 37 caller full-time contracts for Wales players that nan governing assemblage says makes them "one of nan champion paid world women’s teams successful nan world game".

Wales skipper Hannah Jones revealed earlier this period that an statement had been reached connected caller deals aft respective months of talks betwixt players and nan WRU, pinch salary understood to beryllium nan main constituent of contention.

Initially Wales had been awarded 12 master contracts astatine nan commencement of 2022, but that number has steadily risen and nan 37 caller deals see galore extended two-year agreements.

It is simply a boost for nan squad arsenic they hole to look Australia successful their WXV2 opener successful South Africa connected Saturday - buoyed by a first triumph complete nan Wallaroos successful 7 attempts successful past week's warm-up astatine Rodney Parade.

Jones, who was 1 of nan first 12 to beryllium contracted successful 2022 erstwhile nan elder women’s crippled went master successful Wales, is simply a cardinal fig erstwhile again, pinch 76-cap hooker Carys Phillips - who this week besides signed a caller woody pinch Harlequins - caller matchday skipper Kiera Bevan (65-caps) and sevens prima Jasmine Joyce each retained.

There are besides deals for rising stars Nel Metcalfe, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon - who are each successful azygous figures successful Wales appearances - and accordant performers Lleucu George, Alex Callender, Abbie Fleming, Sisilia Tuipulotu and Alisha Butchers.

A WRU connection said it had undertaken "a elaborate benchmarking exercise", adding "the move, which, for nan first time, includes galore extended two-year deals, makes Wales Women 1 of nan champion paid world women’s teams successful nan world game".

WRU main executive Abi Tierney says she is assured Wales now person nan systems and structures successful spot to guarantee preparations for nan 2025 Rugby World Cup successful England are nan champion they person ever been.

“We person reached a bully spot pinch this Wales squad and we are excited astir nan future,” said Tierney.

“It’s our occupation to guarantee that everything is correct disconnected nan transportation truthful that nan players and coaches tin ore connected their preparations for what happens connected it.

“We person a stated purpose to proceed to put successful women’s rugby and that intends some astatine nan master level and successful nan structures and systems which underpin it.

“Professional world contracts are a vitally important portion of nan ecosystem we are creating to beforehand success.

“We person not completed this activity and we will person plentifulness much to opportunity connected this taxable erstwhile we denote our afloat strategy this autumn, but this is simply a hugely affirmative time for women’s rugby successful Wales.

“These players are domiciled models for our children, young girls and young women passim nan land, but besides nan pridefulness of nan federation arsenic a whole.

“We are delighted to person been capable to unafraid nan services of each 37 successful a woody which makes this squad 1 of nan very champion supported women’s teams successful nan world game, some financially and structurally.”