Some rugby programs eliminate women’s teams in favor of an ‘open’ category for trans athletes
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Some rugby programs competing in USA Rugby-sanctioned competitions are beginning to eliminate their women’s teams to form teams under the “open” gender division. The changes come in response to a new USA Rugby policy of allowing only biological women to compete in women’s competitions.
The Charlotte Royals and Mother Ruckers issued statements declaring their support for the “open” category, encouraging other teams to also switch from a women’s team to an “open” team.
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“On February 27, 2026, the current US administration put into effect a law prohibiting trans women from playing in the women’s divisions,” the Royals said in a statement. “USA Rugby has made changes to its eligibility policy based on these laws. USA Rugby has introduced the Open Division, a division separate from the women’s and men’s divisions, for clubs and unions to sanction matches involving all genders. For context, USA Rugby is the governing body for all rugby played in the US.
“The Charlotte Royals believe that trans women are women. Banning trans players hurts everyone in the sport and the community at large. We will use the Open Division for any sanctioned games we participate in and encourage other clubs/unions to do the same.
“Trans women were the pioneers of the US LGBTQIA+ Liberation movement during Stonewall, especially Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. We will continue to include our trans brothers in our organization and community, without hesitation.”
USA Rugby announced Friday that it would introduce a new “open” gender division to accommodate trans athletes.
Gabriella Cantorna, Ilona Maher and Emily Henrich of the USA react as they sing their national anthems before the Women’s Rugby World Cup match against Samoa on September 6, 2025, in York, England. (Molly Darlington – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
The new rule came more than a year after President donald trump “Keep Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order and almost seven months after the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) new requirement for all governing bodies to comply.
The USA Rugby goal line flag before the match against Scotland at Audi Field on July 12, 2024, in Washington, DC (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images for Scottish Rugby)
“USA Rugby will now have three categories of competition: Men’s Division, Women’s Division and Open Division. The Open Division will allow any athlete, regardless of gender assigned at birth and gender identity, to compete in USA Rugby sanctioned events, whether contact or non-contact,” the organization said in a statement.
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Gabriella Cantorna, Ilona Maher and Emily Henrich of the USA react as they sing their national anthems before the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool A match between the USA and Samoa at York Community Stadium on September 6, 2025 in York, England. (Molly Darlington – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
In July, the USOPC updated its athlete safety policy to indicate compliance with Trump’s executive order.
USA Rugby’s “open” category is now a proof of concept for other programs aimed at circumventing Trump’s executive order, to keep trans athletes competing against women and leave women without a women’s-only option.
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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to Title IX enforcement and in mainstream media outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The News and ESPN.com.