Rugby Australia says it knows it "has a long way to go" following the nation's top female rugby players calling it out over a lack of funding and alleged favouritism towards male athletes in the sport.

It comes in response to Wallaroos players, including lock Sera Naiqama, Grace Hamilton, Layne Morgan and Arabella McKenzie, taking to social media with a statement listing grievances against the sport's governing body. 

The statement includes allegations of flying the Wallaroos economy while the Wallabies fly business class, and failing to offer women full-time contracts.

"We've seen the impact that women's sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape, thanks to the Matildas," the statement reads.

"It's time for the chairman, board, and CEO to prioritise the future of Australian women's rugby and allocate adequate resources. The future of our games hangs in the balance. It's your move, Rugby Australia."

Rugby Australia responded with a statement on Monday saying it would continue to involve the Wallaroos playing group, through The Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) "in all planning and developments regarding investment in Women's Rugby". 

"We are taking steps towards a fully professional future for the Wallaroos and investing more broadly in women's rugby across national and community competitions — and we know we have a way to go."

It also said it would continue to meet with the elected Super W representatives from each Super W team. 

Currently Wallaroos players are part-time athletes.

Almost every current Wallaroos player posted the same letter to Rugby Australia on social media platforms on Sunday.

"You continually say we don't have enough resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send off for the Wallabies," their statement reads.  

As the Wallabies prepare for next month's Rugby World Cup in France, Rugby Australia has heavily promoted its signing of NRL player Joseph Suaalii for a reported $5 million. 

The Wallaroos players' social media post also points out their coach, school teacher Jay Tregonning, is not full time, yet Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has multiple assistants.

In football, the Matildas and Socceroos signed an agreement in 2019 to share revenue evenly between the women's and men's teams.

Earlier this year, Rugby Australia announced it would contract Wallaroos players on a part-time basis and work towards having them on full-time contracts by 2025.