True South Rugby

Saving the world, one ruck at a time!

Women’s Club

2025-2026 | Union Competition Details for Participating Clubs

Mission: More Folks Playing Better Rugby

Overall Scheduling: Teams are free to schedule their matches for the women’s union competition. These matrix (competitive) matches must be finalized and scheduled before August 15.

D2 | 2025-2026

Structure Update

For the upcoming season, the WD2 competition will consist of 4 teams:

  • Birmingham 
  • Chattanooga 
  • Nashville 
  • Knoxville

Each team will play 3 pool matches (one against each opponent). Following that, all 4 teams will participate in the union playoffs, consisting of a semi-final and a final—totaling 5 union matches.

These pool matches must take place before March 15, 2026 as the matches will determine seeding for the next round. No team will play 100% of their matches in the Spring. Union playoffs are tentatively planned for late March or early April. Playoff format will be dependent on your club’s participation at the August True South union meeting (August 3).

This structure aligns with USA Rugby’s WD2 minimum eligibility requirement of four matches and provides an extra match for player eligibility, ensuring that our union representative will exceed the National Club Series (NCS) standards.

Player Eligibility Note:
To support roster compliance for your players: All WD2 teams are strongly encouraged to schedule one additional Recognized Competitive Match. This can be versus any other WD2 or higher NCS recognized team. Matrix rules and RX input must be followed to count (Refer to Section 3.4.3 in the Senior Club Eligibility Regulations).

All teams are expected to schedule their competitive matches and submit dates to the Committee no later than August 15, 2025; include MidSouth & Deep South referee societies in the correspondence.

D3 | 2025-2026

D3 Purpose: Prepare developing teams for D2 by organizing a base competition to help foster recruitment and skill. Goal is for teams to move towards division 2 when #s are steady.

D3 Benefits:

  • Encourage growth by allowing probationary clubs into D3 upon application approval
  • Increase recruitment, retention, and buy-in from players by structuring a new competition outlet
  • Allow players to play and gain experience by providing an environment without matrix restrictions
    • Rolling substitutions
    • Remove minimum roster requirement
      • With this, matching and/or filling in numbers is expected
    • Allow the option to fill-in with registered players from other teams
      • With this, expectation is if the team does not have numbers

View 2025-2026 Women’s Division 3 Competition Guidelines

For the upcoming season, the WD3 competition will be made up of two-pools. The pools were grouped to mitigate travel for this developmental league.:

North Pool:

  • Memphis
  • Clarksville
  • Huntsville
  • High Country
  • Chattanooga D3 (pool play only)

Each team in the North Pool will play four matches — one against each of the other active teams. Home and away are predetermined to ensure every team has an equal number of each. Chattanooga D3 will not participate in the next round (i.e. D3 playoffs), but every match versus Chattanooga D3 counts towards seeding in the North pool.

South Pool:

  • Mobile
  • New Orleans
  • Panama City Beach

Each team in the South Pool will play 4 matches — by playing each other twice as a home and an away.

These pool matches must take place before March 15, 2026 as the matches will determine seeding for the next round. No team will play 100% of their matches in the Spring. Union playoffs are tentatively planned for late March or early April. Playoff format will be dependent on your club’s participation at the August True South union meeting, August 3 to discuss playoff options.

All teams are expected to schedule their competitive matches and submit dates to the Committee no later than August 15, 2025; include MidSouth & Deep South referee societies in the correspondence.

The purpose of this non-national qualifying competition is to provide developing teams a base to play matches, ultimately moving to division 2 with growth in numbers and skill.

Note for TBD 2026 True South WD3 Champion

Gulf Coast Super Regionals is being considered for WD3. Let’s discuss the feasibility of participation for the future WD3 True South champion at the August special meeting. GCSR will be held in Texas (city TBD) on April 25 & 26, 2026 for the 2025-2026 season.