Women's Super Rugby: RFU offers 10 clubs places in 2017 competition
- Published
Ten clubs have been handed spots in the first season of England's new women's domestic rugby union competition, starting in September.
Six of the eight clubs in the 2016-17 Women's Premiership,, external including leaders Bristol Ladies, have been given places.
The Rugby Football Union will make a multi-million pound investment in the competition's first three years.
Women's Super Rugby is aimed at improving playing standards and increasing participation in the sport.
The number of females playing rugby union grew significantly in the aftermath of England's World Cup victory in 2014 and the RFU want to double the number of current participants to 50,000.
RFU director of professional rugby Nigel Melville said: "This is another significant development for women's rugby in this country.
"Women's Super Rugby will drive standards in the game, both domestically and at an elite level, and continue to encourage more women and girls to play the sport.
"We now have the opportunity to build a world-class domestic competition, with the backing and funding of the RFU, demonstrating the union's commitment to growing the game at all levels."
Women's Super Rugby participants
Bristol Ladies
Darlington Mowden Park Sharks
Firwood Waterloo Ladies
Harlequin FC
Gloucester-Hartpury Women's RFC
Loughborough Students (Lightning)
Richmond FC
Saracens Women
Wasps FC Ladies
Worcester Valkyries
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- Published5 October 2016
- Published17 March 2017