RFU vows not to give up on women's rugby

Rugby Football Union chief executive, Bill Sweeney, says women's rugby remains a priority for the sport despite the current coronavirus crisis.

The women's Premier 15s season was cancelled in March with no date set for next season to start and no headline sponsor in place.

But Sweeney confirmed to BBC Sport the RFU will still fund 28 professional contracts for England players and two companies were looking at replacing Tyrells as sponsors of the Premier 15s.

"The women's game is absolutely critical," he said. "It's a major strategic priority for us. Clearly we're going to have fewer resources.

"So we've looked at our plans and asked what are the things we're going to have to pause for a while and what are the things we simply cannot give up on? Women's rugby falls squarely in [the latter] category."