Quinnipiac Moving Women's Rugby to Club Can Continue But Players' Court Challenge Still In Effect

Twenty-three Quinnipiac rugby players, represented by Reagan Perez and Carolyn Melody, are seeking to reverse the Quinnipiac University decision.

“Given the evidence and testimony the athletes presented in court, we are extremely disappointed in today’s decision,” plaintiff lawyer Christine Brown told the Hartford Courant. “We continue to believe the record shows clearly that a successful women’s varsity program with real institutional value has been targeted while other responsibilities under Title IX and basic fairness have been ignored."

Title IX is very much at the crux of this issue, as the plaintiffs contend that no varsity rugby hurts Quinnipiac's Title IX mandate to offer proportional athletic opportunity for women.

Plaintiff lawyers said the University will still have to defense its Title IX compliance and its claim that financial pressures prompted the decision.

Judge Dooley did say she will move to expedite the trial so that a decision can be made in time for the 2027-28 season.