Exciting Plans for Launch of Women’s Elite Rugby League in 2025

Women’s Elite Rugby (WER) is set to make its debut in 2025, with plans to launch with at least six teams and a commitment to pay its players. The U.S.-based league aims to capitalize on the growing momentum of women’s sports and provide elite players with the opportunity to compete domestically while being compensated.

WER president Jessica Hammond-Graf shared some financial details and plans for the league during a recent media call. The single-entity pro league is currently in the process of raising investment capital to support the organization, with full compensation details for players yet to be announced.

The league is halfway through a pre-seed funding round, with plans to leverage the increasing interest in the sport ahead of the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cups, both of which are set to take place in the United States. WER vice president Katherine Aversano highlighted the financial support that major events like these can bring from international corporations and World Rugby.

Internationally, New Zealand has been dominant in women’s rugby, winning six of the last seven World Cups. The growing popularity of the sport was evident when a record 58,498 fans attended England’s match against France in last year’s Women’s Six Nations Championship.

The announcement of WER comes 15 years after the establishment of the Women’s Premier League, a player-run organization in partnership with USA Rugby. However, players in the WPL are still required to pay for their own travel and dues. Hammond-Graf emphasized the need for a sustainable model for women’s rugby in the United States, with WER aiming to set a new standard for the sport in the country.