Australia’s top women’s rugby union players have launched a coordinated social media campaign against Rugby Australia over alleged favouritism towards male athletes in the sport. More than half of the team that played against Canada in July have posted on Instagram and Twitter with a nine-paragraph statement.

It includes a list of grievances against the governing body including allegations of flying the Wallaroos economy while the Wallabies flew business class, the failure to offer women full-time contracts, and spending millions of dollars on recruitment and staff for the men’s game at the same time as Rugby Australia cited a lack of resources for the women.

“We’ve seen the impact that women’s sport has had on the Australian sporting landscape, thanks to the Matildas,” it stated. “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.”

At least 10 players have posted the message, including lock Sera Naiqama, No 8 Grace Hamilton, scrum half Layne Morgan and fly half Arabella McKenzie.

A spokesperson for Rugby Australia said the organisation will “continue to involve the Wallaroos playing group, through the Rugby Union Players’ Association, 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.

“In line with Rugby Australia’s commitment to incorporate players on this journey, Rugby Australia will continue to meet with the elected Super W representatives from each Super W team, the Rugby Union Players’ Association women’s player director, and the Wallaroos leadership group to listen and work together, to support our female athletes and their coaching and support teams.”

The campaign was partly triggered by the send-off the Wallabies received prior to leaving for Darwin. The team was flown to the Northern Territory for a four-day mini-camp before travelling to France for next month’s Rugby World Cup. A send-off in Sydney was also held last week.

“You continually say we don’t have enough resources and yet we all saw the World Cup send off for the Wallabies,” the statement said.

In last month’s Pacific Four Series in Canada the Wallaroos had two large losses to New Zealand and Canada, but thrashed the USA.

Rugby Australia had previously stated it planned to offer professional contracts for the Wallaroos by 2025. A collective bargaining agreement signed earlier this year provides for 35 players to be paid between $30,000 and $52,000 annually. The new agreement will run until 2026.

Super W players received a minimum payment of $4,000 in addition to club payments for the five-rounds plus-finals Super W season. In rugby league, NRLW players earn a minimum of $30,000 this year and more than $50,000 in 2027 for the nine-rounds plus-finals season.

Rugby Australia has heavily promoted its signing of NRL player Joseph Suaalii for a reported $5m and has flagged it continues to recruit male athletes from its rival code.

In football, the Matildas and Socceroos signed an agreement in 2019 that shares the commercial revenues evenly between the women’s and men’s national teams.

The Wallaroos play New Zealand in Waikato next month. The men’s Rugby World Cup starts in France on 9 September.