Tamara Taylor simply can’t wait to be a professional rugby player again.

This month has seen the RFU offer 28 full-time contracts for England women’s team for the first time since the lead-up to the 2017 Rugby World Cup.

Devon-born and Berkshire-raised, Taylor, who now lives in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has a glittering rugby CV including a World Cup win, seven Grand Slams and 115 caps.

Having had to juggle rugby and work commitments, the 36-year-old is over the moon England have followed the lead of France, New Zealand and Australia in going full-time.

“We were really lucky in getting to be professional before the last World Cup when others weren’t so lucky,” said Taylor, speaking at a training weekend for the LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge on behalf of Wooden Spoon.

“The girls train so hard anyway, but it’ll be fantastic we can get a bit more recovery time and not have to balance work and all the training we’re doing.

“We’ll see a huge improvement in results and that’s what you’ve seen in the teams that have gone that way.

“Everyone is really excited by the opportunity and I can’t wait to see how we progress.”

Sarah Hunter’s side fell agonisingly short of victory twice in a packed 2017 – settling for second in both the Women’s Six Nations and the World Cup in Ireland.

Taylor is one of the old guard, having made her debut in 2005 and being capped more than any other women’s player aside from Rochelle Clark.

So it’s encouraging for the veteran to see the next generation progressing apace, with winger Abigail Dow looking set for stardom after eight tries in her opening five Test matches.

“We’ve had a nice transition between sevens and 15s rugby and there’s been some good skill development between the two,” said Taylor.

“Abbie has profited from that and come in to make a major impact.

“She’s a chilled, relaxed person and is quite a balance person – she’s studying for a degree at the moment and making sure her life is in order.

“Zoe Aldcroft and Sarah Bern are two forwards that have come through as well, they’re really good rugby players but strong athletes as well.”

Support us in the LMAX Exchange Everest Rugby Challenge to help change the lives of children and young people with disabilities and facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland – visit woodenspoon.org.uk/Everest #everestrugby