The Rugby Football Union has performed a dramatic about-turn and is planning to reinstate contracts for women’s XVs players, The Telegraph can reveal.

The RFU’s initial decision not to renew contracts for the national squad was widely denounced, not least because it was announced in the build-up to last year’s Women’s World Cup in August. It meant players prepared for the competition knowing they would be without a job at the end of it.

Three MPs led the criticism of the move at the time, with Tonia Antoniazzi, a former Wales international, describing it as a “huge blow” to the women’s game. England ultimately lost to New Zealand in the final.

A record television audience of 2.65 million tuned in to watch that match, which was broadcast in the prime-time Saturday evening slot on ITV. Combined with a revamped domestic women’s competition - the Tyrrells Premier15s, which Saracens won last weekend - this seemed to have acted as catalysts for the RFU to review that decision.

“We are working towards contracts and the aspiration is that we will have it leading into the next World Cup [in 2021],” Nicky Ponsford, the RFU head of women’s performance, told Telegraph Sport.

“How quickly it happens before then, we just have to wait and see, but I believe the success of the league will help us drive things forward. The more we can promote, grow and develop the XVs game, all makes the argument stronger for moving in the direction [of contracts].”