changes are largely financial following the involvement of the rfu, who will invest £2.11 million overproach to coaching, strength and conditioning and a more professional approach throughout top of the women's game. the rfu still wants to boost the numbers playing grassroots by boost the numbers playing grassroots rugby to 50,000 over the next four seasons. about a year ago were talking about moving things forward and hopefully putting the competition in place to close the gap from the development end of the game and the elite game. to do that we wanted to think geographically and make it competitive and so we embarked on our journey and make it competitive and so we embarked on ourjourney and the board were really supportive. and thatis board were really supportive. and that is how we have got to where we are. the new leader has not come without controversy. litchfield spent 15 years playing in the top flight spent 15 years playing in the top flight of the woman's competition and have been excluded from the new league, something they have called disgusting and disappointing. their app

the rfu and the clubs and this you hadded should be ed into the schools on how you brings kids throughhings are put in place and investment is being brought to bear as such. so i think it is being integrated and to look at school's rugby. it is an attack on the professional game. go to sundays, anywhere around the country and see the growth number of kids coming into rugby and schools, and you know, we should look at the research again. alison, is it an ta tack on professional rugby —— attack on professional rugby? no, of course not. it is about putting the interests of the child first. and you know, these million schoolchildren, only a few hundred will ever play after the age of 20. most children stop playing rugby and one of the main reasons they give up is because of interference with education, but the fear of injury. these children's bodies are developing and the brain in a young man isn't maturing and mature until the mid—20s. so what you are doing is exposing children to repeat concussions and blows where we know there are short—term harms and we are concerned about the long—ter

what about the rfu, who have pointed out that that collision element is introduced gradually in rugby contact sport at that point? well, most children give up that point? well, most children give up the game by the time they are 18. and now we are talking about the uk government wanting to roll out rugby toa government wanting to roll out rugby to a million children across the uk. that, according to the data, is going to result in 100,000 to 200,000 injuries presenting, outpatients or gp practices. and an extra 200,000 injuries a year is unsustainable, and we shouldn't be exposing children to that risk. so what we are really concerned about is exposing children to unnecessary risks, when most of these children give up again. only a few hundred, at the most, children go on to play the professional game. so we want to keep the game, but we want to change the laws of the game that make children particular vulnerable. and thatis children particular vulnerable. and that is why are calling for a ban on the very dangerous collision elements. and what we do know from studies, even from nine —