Two Cumbrians are among 28 players to have been handed professional deals for the 2019 season in a hugely significant day for England Women’s rugby.

Keswick’s Abbie Scott and Cath O’Donnell, of Maryport, were named in the 35-strong elite player squad which is supplemented by seven EPS agreements, with players who will come into camps and England training, but won’t be on the full-time programme.

The Rugby Football Union-funded squad is the only one in women’s international rugby that is a permanent XVs group on full-time deals. XVs contracts based on the next major tournament were not renewed after the 2017 World Cup, with an emphasis put on sevens instead, but the RFU announced in September that full-time XVs contracts would be implemented this season.

“This is obviously a huge day for all of us who have been selected in the squad,” said England captain Sarah Hunter, who has 108 caps to her name.

“It is something in my playing career that I didn’t think would probably happen but it is the extent of the hard work the RFU has done to invest into the women’s game.

"I think it is hugely significant, and for us as players, it means our focus can solely be on how we can be the best rugby player and how that contributes to being the best squad member for the England team.

"It allows us to focus solely on our training, out attention to detail, our rest and recovery.”