World Cup changes announced

This change in particular has been made with the sevens calendar in mind.

The next Rugby World Cup Sevens is in 2018 and a clash with the World Cup would have presented headaches for the IRB and for the teams involved given the large number of women's players who are still involved in the game at both levels.

At this year's World Cup a raft of international 7s stars are expected to be involved, despite many operating on full time 7s contracts.

The changes in full are.

- The Women’s Rugby World Cup to move to every four years from 2017

- Women's Rugby World Cup to be capped at 12 teams. The qualification process will be streamlined to ensure the participation of the world's best teams on the world's biggest stage

- Details of the qualification process and tender process for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 and 2021 will be announced in due course.

RWCL Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "Women's Rugby is one of the world's fastest growing team sports with an unprecedented 1.5 million women and girls participating across every continent."

"At the forefront of the phenomenal growth are our flagship women's Fifteens and Sevens events and we are committed to ensuring that Women's Rugby World Cup is cemented as one of the prestige properties in women's sport."

IRB Rugby Committee member Cheryl Soon said: "The Women's Rugby World Cup is a fantastic event and today's announcement is great news for the Game."

"It's a long-term commitment to the Women's Game, which is growing at a record speed. To enhance that, we need to support the development of the Game and get the schedule right."

"This will allow the top players compete in the Olympics, the Women's Rugby World Cup and then the Rugby World Cup Sevens, if they choose to. The top players can take part in the top events."