The new Women’s Elite Rugby league will be backing its first event with the Women's Premier League Legacy Cup in September.
The WER is a new professional league that has already announced teams in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, Twin Cities, Boston, Chicago, and Denver. The actual league will kick off in March 2025, leaving an elite-level women's schedule of the WPL in the fall and the wER in the spring.
“We are thrilled to take world-class women’s rugby to the next level across the United States and delighted by the welcoming of our six generous host cities,” said WER President Jessica Hammond-Graf. “Each chosen market has a unique, storied history with the sport of rugby and we’re proud to continue building upon that legacy and expanding opportunities for the future generations of athletes.”
All-time USA caps leader Jamie Burke has been appointed as the league’s Director of Rugby. In Burke’s new position, she will be responsible for providing leadership, direction and delivery of WER’s on-field product. The Director of Rugby will establish the culture and standards of the coaching and player personnel in the WER, with the aim of becoming the top domestic women’s rugby competition in the world.
"We are at an incredible inflection point in both the women's sports space and women's rugby, specifically. I am thrilled about the vision of Women's Elite Rugby and getting the opportunity to be a crucial pillar of an organization that is driving the future of women's rugby in the United States,” Burke said. “We have the opportunity to define a unique brand of WER rugby that is dynamic, exciting and allows our athletes to showcase their skills, athleticism, and creativity for both the American rugby fan and the sports fans across the globe."
