Sevens rugby star Jodie Ounsley has signed for new Premier 15s side Sale Sharks after the Rugby Football Union announced a cull of sevens contracts.

The governing body will stop paying both male and female sevens players for several months after their contracts run out on August 31, as revealed by The Telegraph, in an attempt to save money amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision by the RFU has now seen one of their brightest stars in Ounsley sign for Sharks where she will continue to compete for a spot on the Olympic squad next summer.

She said: “I’m proud to be joining Sale Sharks, as a northern girl I have wanted to be part of my local Premiership club for a long time and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to make that dream a reality.“

Sharks won their bid to enter the Premier 15s in April, a move that saw Exeter Chiefs also win a spot with Richmond and Firwood Waterloo losing out.

The top flight of women’s rugby is yet to get back to training due to the pandemic and does not yet have a return to play date.