THIS year’s Six Nations featured an England side breaking new ground with players on varying levels of professional contracts.

The Red Roses fought back from 13 points down against France, their tenacious back three countlessly crossed the whitewash against Wales and wing Kay Wilson wrote her name in the history books with a record seven tries against Scotland.

The final weekend saw a Grand Slam showdown between England and Ireland, a fixture neither side had won by a margin greater than seven points in the last three meetings. For England to win 34-7, their professional status was plain to see.

But for all its revolutionary potential, growing TV coverage of the women’s game, if it is to feature next year, threatens to undermine the integrity of the competition.

When England battered Scotland and Wales by more than 60 points each en route to their Grand Slam, TV screens did little to hide the new disparity between professional and amateur women’s rugby.

While she deserves full recognition for her remarkable performance against the Scots, Wilson’s seven tries marked England’s superiority above their British neighbours, but subtly questioned the longstanding credibility of the women’s competition. How many little Scottish girls, teenagers and older women were inspired to try their hand at throwing an egg-shaped ball after watching England’s procession?

How can a team, thrust under an embarrassing, unwanted limelight, really inspire greater participation numbers, if professional sides like England continue to shine against the backdrop of what is still an amateur competition?

Since the RFU announced player contracts in light of England’s World Cup success in 2014, the uptake by the other five nations has been slow, and it is vital they secure professional status soon for the good and growth of the game.

Winning a World Cup might not have to be necessary, but funding does, and this raises questions over how much money generated from TV rights will be ploughed back into national rugby bodies.

As the profile of women’s rugby grows, the Six Nations council, World and European governing rugby associations should be careful to not compromise the quality of a growing sport which is at risk of being intermittently glamourised by our screens, only to be quickly shunned for its lack of professionalism.