England Women's 15-a-side players will be given full-time professional contracts from next year, the English RFU has announced.
Following last week's board meeting, a proposal has been agreed which will see 28 full-time contracts available from the start of January 2019, along with seven elite player squad agreements.
This approach is in contrast to the IRFU's, where the XVs game is still amateur for woman and the only professional contracts are within the 7s game.
Ireland will be the first opponents for the professional England outfit as they host the Red Roses at Aviva Stadium on 2 February in the opening game of the Six Nations.
RFU chief executive Steve Brown said in a statement: "This has long been our ambition and demonstrates the RFU's commitment to growing the women's game and the belief we have in the future of the sport."
All the contracted England players will be eligible to play for their clubs in the Tyrrells Premier 15s competition, returning to the RFU for international duties.
The England Women squad is to be based at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre.
Brown added: "We are at a tipping point for women's rugby globally and it is our ambition to be world number one and drive growth at every level.
"As an organisation, from top to bottom, we are very much behind this and want to see the continued expansion and growth to realise the ambitious targets we have set ourselves."
Congrats @EnglandRugby #RedRoses on the next big stride forward in your own and the global game. Another big name to join the world leading teams paving the way. #brightfuture #toptier #moreofthis https://t.co/47Ny4QNfe1
— Lynne Cantwell (@cantwelll) September 17, 2018
