Women’s Elite Rugby Launches First U.S. Professional League

The six-team league begins its inaugural season on March 22, offering professional opportunities for players and aiming to strengthen U.S. rugby ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.

• Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is the first professional women’s rugby league in the United States, featuring six teams in its inaugural season.
• The league’s founding teams are based in Boston, New York, San Francisco, Twin Cities, Chicago, and Denver, with rosters filled through a competitive selection process.
• WER aims to provide a professional training environment for players, many of whom previously competed abroad or in amateur leagues, as they prepare for the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
• Funding for WER has come from private investors, raising $500,000 in pre-seed funding and targeting $3 million in its seed round, with plans to expand further.
• Key challenges for the league include ensuring long-term financial sustainability, learning from the struggles of past U.S. rugby leagues.

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