Currently, most clubs in South Africa’s top-flight Women’s Premier Division do not have players on professional contracts (Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images).

The South Africa (SA) Rugby national governing body has announced plans to launch a women's professional league with up to 150 players next year.

Provincial rugby unions have been invited to submit proposals for three-year franchises in the new Women's Super League Rugby (WSLR), with the franchises being offered budgetary support such as travel costs being covered.

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Currently, most clubs in South Africa's top-flight Women's Premier Division do not have players on professional contracts, with Bulls Daisies becoming the first women's professional rugby team in South Africa only last year, with a roster of 35 contracted players.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said: "The women's game is making amazing strides across the world and in South Africa.

"We want to match that growth by providing an appropriate aspirational, high-performance platform for South African women."

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Alexander also stated that it had been a priority for the body for several years.

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SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said the body was looking forward to confirming the franchises in October.

He added: "It will be a key moment in the strategy to bring the Women's Rugby World Cup back to South Africa.”