England captain Emily Rudge has said being paid to play at the World Cup is a welcome “first step” towards the domestic women’s game going full-time.
The St Helens second row is set to play in her fourth World Cup after featuring in 2008, 2013 and 2017.
However, this will be her first with equal participation fees, prize money and a mainstream media platform, with all the games being shown on the BBC.
And Rudge, who also works as a PE teacher, believes the tournament could prove to be a seminal moment for the sport in England.
“Professionalism is ultimately the goal,” she told BBC Sport.
“We definitely play because we love it – but we want to see that investment in the game and see players be paid. To reach your true full potential, you have to be a full-time athlete.
“It is so difficult balancing work and rugby. You always want to do more and there are work commitments that don’t allow that.
“That has to be the next stage for the growth of the game to continue and for us to compete at the highest level. We have to see that movement. Us being paid is definitely the first step in that direction so hopefully that momentum will continue.”
On Sunday, Leeds Rhinos announced, external they will award win bonuses and “meritocratic payments for success in the Challenge Cup and Grand Final competitions” to their players from 2023.
Leeds, who won the Women’s Super League Grand Final in September, said it is the next phase in their move to make their women’s team fully professional.
England coach Craig Richards added: “We want to be in a position to go and win the World Cup, but do it with great individuals and ambassadors for the game and hopefully it attracts some more money into the game and the girls can get what they deserve.
“We have made massive strides, but like anything else it just needs that little bit more, especially when you are looking at the other side of the pond and the NRLW.
“We can’t allow that gap to get much bigger so we have to do something special and not allow that gap to widen from a financial point of view.”
Australia – whose players already compete in the fully professional NRL women’s competition – head into the tournament as clear favourites to claim a third consecutive title.