https://usa.rugby/news/usa-rugby-updates-competition-eligibility-policy-2026227(https://usa.rugby/news/usa-rugby-updates-competition-eligibility-policy-2026227)

This policy was initiated by a presidential executive order 14201 (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-14201-keeping-men-out-womens-sports)(https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-14201-keeping-men-out-womens-sports). The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee determined that this order applied to all National Governing Bodies (NGB), including USA Rugby. USA Rugby was forced to comply by creating the policy. Neither the Senior Club Council (which oversees all competition at the adult club level) nor the Carolinas Geographic Rugby Union had any input on the content or timing of this policy.

As of today, there will be no changes. Current men's and women's teams will continue to compete within their matrix competitions. Our two IGR clubs compete socially and are not part of the CGRU matrix. These clubs are members of the CGRU and are fully compliant. All matches are in our Friendlies competition against other CGRU clubs or IGR clubs from other unions. However, discussions over the weekend has spurred the idea of an IGR competition at the regional or national level within RX. Think of the Atlantic Women's D1 where teams from multiple unions compete in one competition.

There is no change at the individual level for any role (player/coach/admin/etc.). During the annual registration cycle, you may select one of the options in the gender question which includes male, female, non-binary/gender diverse, other, or prefer not to say.

Absolutely nothing. USA Rugby is the only body authorized to determine player eligibility. There will be no on-field challenges or contests regarding a player’s gender or division eligibility in CGRU competitions. There are USA Rugby policies in place for any person who has, or is going to declare a gender different from birth. It is up to the individual to initiate any discussion. The process involves the Medical Officer to determine eligibility. These are private and protected discussions, and therefore no one from the CGRU board will be involved. We will be informed if and when a decision has been made. The CGRU will not make any determinations nor be involved in initiating any discussions that involve reporting a CGRU player.

All clubs remain the same as they have been. A club may have multiple teams, each of which competes in a different competition. It is the competition which determines the status. Your club may have teams in men's D3, women's D2 and Open. It is up to the club to move players to the appropriate team. My understanding is that movement between teams will be restricted by eligibility. For example, there are limitations for a player to play both men's D2 and D3. I would expect similar language for a player to move between women's D2 and Open.

The Carolinas is the only union of 27 that is fully 100% compliant. I personally have put together the compliance metrics for all of the SCC clubs over the past 6 months. There are 146 non-compliant clubs, including 94 that don't follow a separate USOPC-mandated requirement. This involves every club needing a registered admin-volunteer to ensure he/she has completed SafeSport and the background check. This is required for anyone with access to member data. Despite my objections, the SCC ExCo determined at the February meeting that they are not enforcing any accountability on this metric. I was specifically told by a member of the ExCo that USA Rugby cannot enforce the policy as it is not included in the Community Agreement between USA Rugby and the SCC. I fought that last month and lost. Therefore, I have no plans to implement any sanctions until ALL USOPC mandates are being followed. We do not pick-and-choose which mandates to follow. Simply put, the CGRU will fight any talk of sanctions until all 94 clubs are compliant.

As the head of Rugby Xplorer for all of Senior Club Council, I can tell you that there have been no discussions on the implications of this policy within RX. No guidance has been provided by USA Rugby.

At this point, we do not know. A tournament host could offer any combination of men's, women's and open divisions. The challenges will be finding enough teams for each division and creating a schedule to accommodate everyone.