England and France lead way but women’s rugby is being badly let down elsewhere | Ali Donnelly

Depressing report into the state of the Black Ferns highlights problems even as move towards professionalisation accelerates

England’s success at attracting a record crowd in Gloucester last week for the win against Wales, plus a likely even better one against Ireland next Sunday in Leicester as the Six Nations resumes, is neat evidence of women’s rugby’s impressive ascent.

Italy becoming the latest Test nation to announce contracts for their players in recent days adds weight to the argument that 2022 has been the most transformational year for the women’s game.