Increasing the number of women and girls participating in rugby and developing player pathways has been revealed as a strategic priority for Harlequins.

The London-based Premiership Rugby club has partnered with Aylesford Bulls Ladies Rugby Team in an attempt to grow the number of females at every level over the next five years.

Harlequins will work with Aylesford from 2016/17 to establish player pathways from grassroots to the Premiership. The scheme will also include talent identification operations and the development of new clubs to give every player the opportunity to “achieve their potential”.

The club will develop programmes alongside Gary Street – who coached England to Women’s World Cup glory in 2014 – and former Scotland and Richmond head coach Karen Findlay.

To kick things off, Harlequins will host an open day at its Surrey Sports Park training centre on Sunday 12 June, where players can meet the new coaching team and learn about the coaching programme.

“Growing women and girls rugby is integral to our strategy as we move forward and is a key element in ensuring we maintain focus on our ambition to be the best rugby club in Europe,” said Tony Diprose, Harlequins academy and global development director.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has also made the women’s and girls’ game a strategic priority, launching its Play To Your Strengths campaign, which aims to get 25,000 more females playing rugby by 2017.