A women’s rugby club at Rutgers University has dropped the word “women” from its official name, rebranding itself “Rutgers Womxn’s Rugby” in what club leaders describe as a move toward greater inclusion.
The team announced the change in a social media post on Sept. 24. “Important Announcement: We’re excited to announce that Rutgers Women’s Rugby will be making the change to Rutgers Womxn’s Rugby!” the statement read. “This change reflects our team’s commitment to creating a welcoming, inclusive and supportive environment for our players. Inclusivity is an important part of who we are, and we want every member of our team to feel valued and represented through our organization. We are continuously evolving and want to properly reflect the standards of inclusion. We’re proud to continue building a rugby community where everyone belongs.”
The spelling “womxn” originated in activist and academic circles as an alternative meant to remove “man” from the word “woman” and signal openness to transgender inclusion.
The rugby club operates as a student-run organization, meaning it sets its own internal branding and messaging. But eligibility for actual competition is governed separately, by national and international sports federations that base rules on biological sex. World Rugby, the sport’s global governing body, bars biological males from competing in women’s divisions, citing safety concerns tied to the physical differences that result from male puberty, including greater muscle mass, bone density and collision force.
The name change comes as the Trump administration presses a broader federal effort to enforce Title IX protections strictly along the lines of biological sex. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said this week that “women should feel safe in their spaces” and that “Title IX, which is the law, is enforced.” The Education Department has been investigating universities over policies allowing biological males into women’s sports divisions or private locker room facilities.
Rutgers’ men’s rugby club has made no changes to its name or terminology.
Outkick, which first reported the rebranding, said it reached out to Rutgers Womxn’s Rugby club leadership for comment.
