Wales captain Siwan Lillicrap and world sevens star Jasmine Joyce are among the first 12 female players to be awarded professional contracts by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Half-backs Elinor Snowsill and Keira Bevan have also signed, along with Wales rugby league captain Ffion Lewis.

With six caps, Donna Rose is the most inexperienced player to earn a deal.

The other players to accept contracts are Alisha Butchers, Natalia John, Gwenllian Pyrs, Hannah Jones and Lisa Neumann.

The WRU initially intended to award 10 of their 15-a-side players professional contracts, along with 15 semi-professional (or retainer) contracts which are yet to be announced.

The 12-month deals came into being this week, with players and management based at the National Centre of Excellence at the Vale Resort, near Cardiff.

The value of the contracts has not been disclosed, but they include match and training fees.

'Ruthless' selection process

Head coach Ioan Cunningham said it has been a "tough but enjoyable process" and credits the players who have given the WRU "selection headaches".

"We had to be fairly clinical and even ruthless. We clearly have short and medium-term goals in terms of the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup, but we also have an eye on developing the best players for the future," he said.

"We have gone for the players we feel could make the biggest gains at this time, not forgetting the contribution the players who receive retainer contracts will also make to the programme."

The much-anticipated contract announcements follow a turbulent period both on and off the pitch in Welsh women's rugby, including the 2020 departure of former coach Rowland Phillips, who had been absent from his role since the previous October.

Warren Abrahams succeeded Phillips with former Wales captain Rachel Taylor named as skills coach.

However, Taylor resigned before the 2021 Six Nations and Abrahams followed her in July of that year after fewer than nine months in the role.

After another winless Six Nations in 2021, more than 100 former internationals wrote to the WRU saying "enough was enough" and demanded action to improve performance pathways for female players.

A petition signed by 4,000 supported their case and in the wake of Nigel Walker's appointment as WRU performance director, promises were made to meet those demands.

The case for professional contracts was strengthened when Wales' global sevens star Joyce revealed she would be forced to return to work in December, when her funding was due to expire.

'A proud day'

Lillicrap has left her role has head of rugby at Swansea University to take up her offer.

The Bristol Bears number eight said: "This is going to change us, our lives and Welsh women's rugby for this next 12 months and beyond. We are all so excited to start and that just shows what it means to us and for Welsh rugby, it's massive.

"We are in a professional environment now, there are no excuses for us as players but we are looking forward to that opportunity. The aim is we make strides forward between now and the Six Nations and then we kick on again ahead of the Rugby World Cup."

Joyce added: "It's going to make a huge difference for 12 players to be full-time, it's just what we need as a squad moving into the Six Nations and then the Rugby World Cup. I can't wait."

Walker said: "All of this will make a significant difference to the players' preparation, fitness and skill sets in order to enable us to challenge the best teams in the world."

WRU chief executive Steve Phillips said: "This is a very proud day for us as a governing body.

"This is set to be a very demanding but unforgettable year for women's rugby and these players - along with the players on retainer contracts and other squad members - will benefit from the full range of our expert on and off-field support to help them reach their potential."

Former Wales captain Philippa Tuttiett welcomed the development, telling BBC Radio Wales: "It's super-exciting and remember they [the WRU] only actually said they were going to do 10 first of all so to see 12 was a great surprise; two extra full-time contracts."

She added: "They've actually taken some of the slightly older players, slightly more mature players who I think will take every single opportunity that is given to them."