"The girls need to be endorsed," Australia's former World Cup-winning captain Cheryl McAfee (nee Soon) told CNN's World Rugby show. Australia's Charlotte Caslick was one of the stars of the Olympic women's tournament. The men's sevens players, meanwhile, average around $56,000 according to the Sydney Morning Herald. "This is a really exciting time for women's rugby in England," RFU Head of Women's Performance Nicky Ponsford said. "We also recognize that the sevens program is important again next year with the world series and qualification for Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018."

Source: CNN September 22, 2016 19:30 UTC