Saracens and Worcester have become the first English rugby clubs to pay the players in their women's teams.

According to Telegraph Sport, Harlequins are also helping members of their side by paying for accommodation costs.

It is a move which Saracens' director of women's sport Laura Eddie believes reflects what happened with the men's game back in 1995.

She said: “This could be women’s rugby’s 1995 but we are in a good position that we can learn a lot of lessons from that cross over, that is why we want to be smart about how we spend our money.

“It is about that long term vision of developing the staff and infrastructure and making sure the players are well looked after.”

Last season's Tyrrells Premier 15s champions Saracens will pay players between £200 and £250 per apppearance, while Worcester - who finished bottom last season - will pay between £150 and £250.

England and Saracens full-back Sarah McKenna is a full-time player as she earns between £24,000 and £28,000 from the Rugby Football Union already.

But the 30-year-old is still vocal about the need for clubs to start paying players.

She said: “The fact is, we weren’t even talking about this three years ago, it could be a possibility in the future that people won’t need those jobs outside rugby.

"If this is the first step who is to say is to say what could happen in a few years time."