The captain of France moving to join Richmond Ladies could be viewed as a watershed moment in women's rugby union in England.

The captain of France moving to join Richmond Ladies could be viewed as a watershed moment in women's rugby union in England.

Hooker Gaelle Mignot's arrival confirmed that the newly-formed Premier 15s' ambition is to become the best top-flight women's rugby union competition in the world.

With international women's rugby in France regularly attracting audience figures in the millions, Richmond are having to host the French press at a training session this month as they strive to find out why their 30-year-old poster girl has moved across the channel.

Mignot's signature was secured through a relationship between Richmond and Montpellier, and head coach David Mobbs-Smith thinks the new league is ground-breaking.

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"The new Tyrrells Premier 15s is a whole new ball game in women's rugby and a very attractive and challenging environment that the best players in the world including England's Red Roses want to be involved in," he said.

Upon joining the nine-time English Champions the French captain said: "I am thrilled to join a club with such a rich history as Richmond. I am equally proud to be participating in the new era of women's rugby."

Gaelle Mignot factfile
Age: 30	Caps: 69
Position: Hooker	Honours: Led France to Women's Six Nations Grand Slam 2014, five French titles with Montpellier

Mobbs-Smith cannot claim all the credit for the 69-times capped hooker's arrival, with his assistant coach Alain van West, a fluent French speaker, heavily involved in the negotiation.

He believes the new 10-team amateur league has come at a good time for the sport: "The new league is outstanding.

"It's well supported by the RFU and the new sponsors. There is a tidal wave of interest in women's sport in general and hopefully rugby grabs this opportunity.

"All the players in the league, very similar to Richmond, are now on professional strength and conditioning programmes, supported by medical and professional coaching."

The RFU's decision to withdraw full-time XVs contracts for England's women earlier this year caused upset as high as government.

The national governing body promised it would be re-investing £2.4m to revamp top-flight domestic women's rugby in England and with the new league it hopes to deliver.

However, its creation has not been without its critics, with former women's powerhouse Lichfield denied a place in the new competition.

The new movement of players also appears to be benefitting London's clubs to the detriment of others, including former Premiership champions Worcester, who have so far suffered heavy losses as big names, including England's most capped player Rochelle Clark, move away.