The England women’s rugby union squad will play in the World Cup in Ireland next month knowing that their contracts will not be renewed whether they successfully defend their title or not.

Maggie Alphonsi, who has retired since collecting her World Cup winners’ medal in 2014, has described the news as “very disappointing” and while both she and some MPs have reacted with dismay to the emerging news, the Rugby Football Union has defended the switch in emphasis to the sevens game after the 15-a-side tournament. The RFU’s director of professional rugby, Nigel Melville, said the players were told in the spring.

There are currently around 50 players on a mixture of full-time and part-time professional contracts but according to reports, the number of full-time contracts will be reduced to 17 after next month’s Women’s World Cup is over and all will be for rugby sevens. The new XVs contracts are due to be signed prior to the 2021 World Cup.

“The women’s squad were always aware that contracts would end in September after the World Cup,” said Melville. “The current XVs squad was informed in April that the next contracts will be focused on sevens, reflecting the cyclical nature of the women’s game. The squad fully understands the position and are focused on the World Cup in Ireland next month.”

The decision, which has come to light on a weekend when the England women’s cricket team won the World Cup at Lord’s and the football team are on course for the quarter-finals of Euro 2017 in the Netherlands, has been sharply criticised by two female Labour MPs.

Barbara Keeley, MP for Worsley and Eccles South, called it “a shameful decision” and Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi said on Twitter: “Another huge blow for women with contracts being slashed by England RFU.”

Another huge blow for women with contracts being slashed by England RFU @ScrumQueens https://t.co/0MYIJFjIEM — Tonia Antoniazzi MP (@ToniaAntoniazzi) July 23, 2017

The RFU has argued that the priority has to switch from XVs to sevens with the Rugby World Cup Sevens and Commonwealth Games taking place next year. They also highlighted the millions of pounds invested in the women’s game, which has included £800,000 spent annually on a new domestic club competition aimed at increasing and improving the game at a grassroots level.

England, who have named a 28-strong squad under the direction of the head coach, Simon Middleton, begin their defence of the Women’s World Cup against Spain in Dublin on 9 August.

England are drawn in Pool B and will also face Italy and the USA in the first phase. All England games will be broadcast live on ITV.

Fifteen of the squad, which shares a total of 1,207 caps, were part of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad and six players, Natasha Hunt, Katy Mclean, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Danielle Waterman and Amy Wilson-Hardy, represented Team GB sevens at last year’s Rio Olympic Games.

Following a successful three-Test tour in New Zealand, where England beat Australia, Canada and the host nation, the side go into the competition ranked No1 in the world.

“We are confident we have an incredibly strong squad, made up of hugely experienced players who have featured in previous Women’s Rugby World Cups and other major tournaments such as the Olympics,” said Middleton.

“At the same time, we have younger players who have been involved in a grand slam-winning side and a successful three-Test series against some of the best teams in the world earlier this month.”