The Women's Premier League follows a non-profit, pay-to-play amateur club rugby model. The league is player-led and currently hosts 7 teams. Funding for the WPL comes through grants and donations to the teams. Visit the WPL website to learn more.

Women's Elite Rugby is a new professional league that follows a for-profit, paid-to-play model. The league will be run by a dedicated front office staff and support 6 teams for the inaugural season, launching in March 2025.

Following the Ignite the Change Initiative enacted by the players of the WPL, the WPL leadership seated a Board of Directors in April 2023.

The BOD has focused on professionalizing women’s rugby in the United States.

WER is a single entity league (also a model followed by the PWHL). This structure allows for rugby to be universally marketed to the consumer rather than each team market doing what they are able to afford.

As with any professional league, WER will generate revenue through media deals, corporate sponsorships, merchandise, ticket sales, etc.

This conversation is ongoing. There is value in retaining the WPL to provide a continued pathway for players toward professionalization. However, as identified previously, the coast-to-coast pay-to-play model is not sustainable.

In January 2024, a Player’s Committee was formed to liaise between the Board of Directors and the teams during this transition period.

WER is having internal conversations with current WPL teams about standards to join WER.

If WPL teams decide not to or are unable to join WER we will work with them individually to determine how best to support them and the goals of their club.

WER staff continues to engage in conversations with clubs about the transition of coaches and staff to WER as we build a professional atmosphere for the teams.

This policy is currently being developed and has input from the Player’s Committee.

This policy is currently being developed and has input from the Player’s Committee.

This policy is currently being developed and will have input from the Players Committee. This will also evolve as the league itself evolves from year to year.

This policy is currently being developed and has input from the Players Committee. This will also evolve as the league itself evolves from year to year.

WER has a positive working relationship with the new leadership of USA Rugby and we look forward to forging new partnerships around WER and the growth of women’s rugby in the US.