USA Rugby recently announced that it will introduce a new competitive structure featuring three distinct categories: men’s, women’s, and an “open” division designed to accommodate athletes who do not identify with either traditional classification.
According to sources, the sport is experiencing unprecedented growth in popularity and the nation is preparing to host the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The governing body’s announcement has triggered swift and passionate reactions from both fans and observers.
“The Open Division will permit any athlete, regardless of gender assigned at birth and gender identity, to compete in USA Rugby-sanctioned events, whether full contact or non-contact,” the organization stated in its official release.
The timing of this policy shift follows more than a year after President Donald Trump issued his “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order. It prohibited biological males from participating on female teams. Seven months ago, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee reinforced this directive by requiring all governing bodies under its jurisdiction to comply with the presidential mandate.
USA Rugby’s new framework appears designed to navigate these regulatory requirements while creating pathways for broader participation. Under the updated system, athletes will declare their division status during the membership application process through Rugby Xplorer, the sport’s registration platform.
“Division status will be determined during the membership application and registration process, when an athlete selects the ‘gender’ option in Rugby Xplorer,” the statement explained. “When applying for membership or registering as ‘Female’ or registering for an event in the Women’s Division, an athlete represents and warrants to USA Rugby that they are Female.”
Detractors have characterized the policy as “absolutely ridiculous” and “total BS,” while others have questioned the fundamental premise behind the third category. One commenter bluntly asserted, “There are only two genders. So dumb.”
Stars like Ilona Maher are bringing unprecedented attention to women’s rugby. Whether the open division becomes a model for other sporting organizations or remains involved in ongoing controversy remains to be seen.
