Become a professional rugby player... if you're Dutch

England stage their Sevens trials next weekend.

However, if you couldn't make it, or maybe want to make a bit of money out of your rugby, then there is an alternative. All you need is to be aged between 17-25 - and to have are some Dutch relatives stashed away somewhere. Then you too could become something unique - a professional women's rugby player.

The other qualification you may need is to be able to read this...

The NRB (Netherlands Rugby Union) - along with the NOC (the Dutch Olympic Committee) - are taking women's sevens rugby very seriously indeed. One of the world's top sevens nations, the Dutch RFU have already removed their leading players from all fifteens rugby. In addition, at the end of this month, they will be staging trials for "Rugby Talent" - open to any sportswomen from any sport (they are partcularly targeting football, athletics... and judo), who will be fast-tracked into sevens rugby.

If the team makes progress and remains a medal prospect the leading players will receive full-time funding from the NOC, right up to 2016. But they have to perform on the field. The NRB have been set targets and apparently the first - in order to get the funding to become full-time professional sportswomen - requires them to finish in the top three at this year's European Sevens in July.

Its highly doubtful that any women's rugby team will ever have played for the sort of reward the Dutch will be faced with in Bucharest - and there is every prospect they will succeed. A very kind draw means that - realistically - only France stand between them and a place in the final.

So if you've got a Dutch granny somewhere, sign-up now!