Scottish Rugby aim for contracts clarity before World Cup

BBC News

5 hours ago

Scottish Rugby's "uncomfortable" situation around contracts for the national women's team will be resolved before this summer's World Cup, according to chief executive Alex Williamson.A representative of the squad contacted the BBC to highlight that some players are continuing to "suffer with their mental and emotional health following the potential loss of contracts".The long statement claimed only 15 members of the 38-player training squad for the World Cup are on year-long contracts, meaning those on short-terms deals could be left looking for new employment after the tournament."We recognise that it's a little uncomfortable," Williamson told BBC Scotland.
"What we have done is given them certainty as to their position for the near term, as in through the World Cup."But I think we are having excellent conversations and we are very close to providing them with all the outcomes that they are looking for."Before they play [in the World Cup], they will know exactly what is going on."Williamson says the negotiations to provide the international players with short-term security is taking place in the midst of a drive to professionalise the women's game in Scotland."What we're trying to do is create an environment for the longer term, which sees professional rugby played in Scotland as opposed to what currently happens, which is we support our players to go and play in England largely," he said."That is also happening at the same time as the squad preparing for a World Cup."We are looking to introduce a professional environment in Scotland, a much enhanced commitment to the Celtic Challenge."From a personal perspective, I think we need our pro teams or our semi-pro teams here in Edinburgh and Glasgow to be competitive enough to be able to convince everyone else involved that we should have a British and Irish league."Standards must improve in order to achieve that goal."If the Celtic Challenge is weak, there is no common sense conversation to be had with the PWR [Premiership Women's Rugby]," Williamson suggested. "I'd really like to be having that conversation."So we are creating some quite challenging moments for our players. Because, of course, whilst I think the players will all agree that's a good plan, they don't necessarily want it to happen directly to them in this moment. So it is a bit robust."We would like other Scottish female players to be given contracts. So it is a delicate balance and none of this is ideal. I absolutely recognise that."