{"id":512153,"date":"2026-03-01T16:58:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:58:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/512153\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T16:58:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T16:58:19","slug":"usa-rugby-sparks-outrage-with-new-open-category-for-trans-athletes-ahead-of-2028-la-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/512153\/","title":{"rendered":"USA Rugby sparks outrage with new ‘open’ category for trans athletes ahead of 2028 LA Olympics"},"content":{"rendered":"

By BEN NAGLE, US SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 08:20 EST, 1 March 2026 | Updated: 08:22 EST, 1 March 2026 <\/p>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The decision, which has sparked backlash online, comes ahead of the 2028 Olympics<\/a> on home soil, and amid a huge rise in popularity across the country.<\/p>\n

Taking to social media, one fan wrote that the decision was ‘absolutely ridiculous’, while another added that it was ‘total BS’.<\/p>\n

A third, meanwhile, posted: ‘There are only two genders. So dumb.’<\/p>\n

The new rule comes more than a year after President Donald Trump<\/a> introduced his ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports’ executive order, which banned biological men from competing on female teams.<\/p>\n

\"Ilona <\/p>\n

Ilona Maher is USA Rugby’s most famous player two years out from the 2028 Olympics\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Maher <\/p>\n

Maher (right) plays rugby for Team USA, which has now brought in a third ‘open’ category\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

‘Division status will be determined during the membership application and registration process, when an athlete selects the “gender” option in Rugby Xplorer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘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.’<\/p>\n

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