A Rugby Football Union initiative to recruit female coaches and match officials provides a pathway for players who wish to remain in the game, England Women under-20s head coach Jo Yapp said today.

Yapp played in three World Cups for England and was captain in 2006, when her side finished runners-up to New Zealand.

There are 30,000 registered female rugby players and over 500 teams, but the RFU has identified a gap and aims to recruit 400 new female coaches and the same number of female match officials by 2021.

She said: “It’s great for the game. We’ve got loads of women and girls playing rugby. It’s only right we should be getting more girls and women into those roles.

“I know there’s a real appetite for it as well. It’s great for the girls to have role models and people to look up to.

“The more we have the better for players coming through that might want an opportunity to stay within the game and go into coaching.”

The RFU recently announced contracts would be awarded to 15-a-side players, as well as sevens, which is part of the Olympics.

There was previously much debate over the contracts, as they were awarded to players in one or other format, but not both.

Exeter University head coach Yapp supports the new move.

“When I played myself, it’s a massive challenge trying to balance work, training, playing and it becomes really difficult,” she added.

“For these girls to just be able to focus on training and playing and being the best they can be it’s fantastic. And I’m really pleased they’ve got this opportunity.

“Being full-time allows them to do that.”