A new policy banning Trans women from playing in women’s matches has caused a stir within Seattle’s small, yet passionate, rugby community. 

The new rule from the governing body USA Rugby, which went into effect on Feb. 20, limits eligibility for the women’s category to only those born female. Men’s matches, notably, were excluded from this change. 

Clubs in USA Rugby’s system responded by either going silent or posting fiercely worded statements. The Seattle Rugby Club, for its part, recently wrote about the value of having Trans players on the field. 

“Our club has always and will continue to welcome individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities… It’s this diversity that makes the rugby community stronger, richer, and more resilient,” wrote Seattle Rugby. “We strongly disagree with this policy and believe trans women deserve every opportunity to play the sport they love in a safe and welcoming environment. That commitment will not be changed.” 

While these words may provide comfort to worried local athletes, they don’t explain how the club will respond if these new eligibility rules become more strictly enforced. Both the Seattle Rugby Club and USA Rugby did not respond to the SGN’s requests for comment. 

One option is to move games or players into USA Rugby’s new “Open” category, in which all athletes are permitted to play regardless of gender identity. A few clubs, like the Charlotte Royals, have already announced plans to move their women’s matches into this new, less restricted space. 

However, it’s worth noting that the last Open category brought forward to accommodate Trans athletes, by World Aquatics in 2022, failed in a spectacular fashion when literally no one signed up to participate. Not a great benchmark. 

Regardless, USA Rugby is simply the latest sports organization in the US to implement a ban on Transgender athletes. After President Trump threatened to rescind federal funding of sports programs through his “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, most governing bodies have complied out of fear of financial punishment. 

The worst of these bans, unfortunately, is yet to come. The biggest fish in the sports world, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is expected to soon institute a ban of its own on Transgender players, impacting the Olympics and Olympic-led programs. 

The SGN will keep readers updated on the fallout of future bans, throughout 2026.