USA Rugby and Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) have announced the formalization of a sanctioning agreement ahead of WER’s inaugural 2025 season, marking a major milestone in the development of women’s 15s rugby in the United States.

The official sanctioning supports that WER will work to operate in alignment with World Rugby’s highest standards and regulations on the professional level, paving the way for a new era in professional women’s rugby.

The partnership between USA Rugby and WER underscores both organizations' commitment and collaborations on long-term success for professional women’s rugby in the United States. WER’s season also marks an thrilling start to a benchmark year for women’s rugby, as new and veteran USA Eagles take the field in the lead up to the Rugby World Cup in 2025.

“WER is proud to be working alongside USA Rugby as we launch our inaugural season this month,” said Jessica Hammond-Graf, president of WER. “We are confident that the start of WER will be a key moment in the growth of the sport, and we can’t wait for fans to experience the excitement and intensity of high-level, professional women’s rugby in the U.S.”

USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren said, “This is an exciting and key moment for women's rugby in the United States, as USA Rugby establishes multi-level collaboration with WER. Expanding professional women's rugby to the fifteens game is fundamental to the overall growth of the sport, particularly as the rugby community looks ahead to an all-important Rugby World Cup 2033 on home soil. We're excited to support WER's process of building new opportunities for women's rugby fans, players and contributors in this inaugural season."