Standing With Trans Athletes

As we cover competition structures across the world, YSC remains firmly committed to the foundational values of rugby: inclusion, respect, and a place on the field for every body.

We stand unequivocally with transgender players. We urge USA Rugby, WER, and all regional governing bodies enforcing exclusionary or improvised restrictions to dismantle barriers that prohibit trans athletes from full, fair participation. Rugby is at its strongest when everyone is welcome, and we will continue advocating for policies that affirm the dignity, safety, and right to compete for all players across every level of the game.

For our new fans, here’s a breakdown of how the competition works:

Competition Structure

The USA Club Women’s Rugby system is tiered, with teams competing in different divisions (e.g., Division 1, Division 2, and Division 3) and within geographic regions. The ultimate goal for most competitive clubs is to advance to the National Championships. It’s important to note that currently, only teams competing in Division 1  and Division 2 are eligible to advance to the National Championships.

League Play: The season starts with league play, where teams play a series of 6-8 games, generally within their local Geographic Union. This structure helps manage travel costs and provides a regular season competition to determine the best teams within each area.

Playoffs: The journey to a national title is a multi-step process:

1. Union Championships: In most cases, the top teams from each local league advance to their respective Union Championships. This is the first knockout stage of the postseason, where teams compete to be the champion of their region. In rarer cases some Unions declare Champions at the conclusion of League Play.
2. Super Regionals: The winners of the Union Championships then move on to the Super Regionals, also known as the start of the National Championship Series. This is where teams from different unions within a larger competitive region clash. There are four competitive regions:
   1. Northern: Teams from the Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Mid-America.
   2. Atlantic: Teams from the East Coast.
   3. Pacific: Teams from the West Coast, Southwest, and parts of the Rocky Mountains and Utah.
   4. Gulf Coast: Teams from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and other southern states.
3. National Championships: The top teams from each of the four Super Regional competitions advance to the National Championship, where they will compete to be crowned the best in the country.

How to Watch

Watching matches can vary from club to club. Some clubs have the capability to live stream their matches, while others may upload game footage after the fact, and some may not have any digital viewing options. However, as the season progresses, digital viewing becomes more consistent. Once we get to the Union Championships and Super Regionals, most of those matches will be streamed. The National Championships will also be streamed on the USA Club Youtube page.

How We Track Standings & What to Expect

We pull standings from USA Rugby’s Competition Management System (CMS), Rugby Xplorer (RX). If clubs or unions aren’t updating their scores in the system, our weekly posts may be incomplete, as we can only share what’s available at the time. We’ll keep you informed on Union Playoffs, Super Regionals, and National Championships as the season unfolds.

For a more in-depth look, be sure to check out the USA Club Rugby Monthly Recaps, which break down each division, covering all the action from competitions leading into Super Regionals and Club Nationals. These updates also rely on club-entered scores in RX, so if something seems off, check RX or your Geographical Union for final updates.

Rankings

We collect and display official standings, schedules, and postseason qualification paths directly from USA Rugby’s Competition Management System (CMS), Rugby Xplorer (RX), as well as local Geographical Union updates.

Please note that YSC does not generate subjective team rankings. Our focus is entirely on providing clear, comprehensive competition tracking, match schedules, and official standings so players, coaches, and supporters can easily follow the action across every region.

Partners

Bringing you complete coverage of the USA Club Women’s Rugby season is a collaborative effort. We are proud to partner with key organizations dedicated to elevating the domestic game:

• USA Club Rugby: A senior club committee operating under USA Rugby (the National Governing Body), managing national competitions and driving the championship pathway for Division 1 and Division 2.
• Great American Rugby: Supporting grassroots and elite club development to strengthen the domestic playing landscape.
• The Rugby Breakdown: Dedicated news and analysis covering the women’s game at the club, collegiate, and high school levels.