USA Rugby has announced the controversial decision to implement an ‘open’ category to allow trans athletes to compete in the sport ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
In a statement, the governing body announced that the sport in America will now have three categories for participants: the previously-available ‘men’ and ‘women’, and a new ‘open’ category for players who don’t identify in either of the others.
The decision, which has sparked backlash online, comes ahead of the 2028 Olympics on home soil, and amid a huge rise in popularity across the country.
Taking to social media, one fan wrote that the decision was ‘absolutely ridiculous’, while another added that it was ‘total BS’.
A third, meanwhile, posted: ‘There are only two genders. So dumb.’
The new rule comes more than a year after President Donald Trump introduced his ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order, which banned biological men from competing on female teams.
Ilona Maher is USA Rugby’s most famous player two years out from the 2028 Olympics
Maher (right) plays rugby for Team USA, which has now brought in a third ‘open’ category
Seven months ago, the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) passed a new requirement for all governing bodies to comply with Trump’s order, and the ‘open’ category appears to be a measure put in place for that reason.
In a statement, USA Rugby said: ‘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.
‘Division status will be determined during the membership application and registration process, when an athlete selects the “gender” option in Rugby Xplorer.
‘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.’
