Quinnipiac women's rugby team files lawsuit over varsity status change
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 5, 2026, 9:18 PM
Last updated Jun 5, 2026
Members of the Quinnipiac women's rugby team filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court on June 5, seeking to restore the program's varsity status after it was downgraded to club level for the 2026-27 season. The lawsuit claims this decision violates Title IX and retaliates against the coach for raising concerns about unequal treatment of female athletes. The university announced in April that it would add a men’s indoor and outdoor distance track program while downgrading women’s rugby. Sixteen current players and seven incoming freshmen are named as plaintiffs, while the university's trustees and athletic officials are defendants. Quinnipiac officials have not commented on the litigation.
- •Quinnipiac announced women's rugby will move to club status for 2026-27.
- •The lawsuit alleges violations of Title IX and retaliatory actions against the coach.
- •Plaintiffs include 16 players from the 2025 roster and 7 incoming freshmen.
- •The university added a men’s distance track program in the same announcement.
- •Quinnipiac has not commented on the ongoing litigation.
- 9:18 PMYahoo Sports — Quinnipiac women's rugby players sue school after program is dropped from varsity to club level
"Members of the Quinnipiac women's rugby team on Friday filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Connecticut seeking the reinstatement of the program's varsity status after the university announced last month that it would be dropped to the club level in 2026-27. The lawsuit alleges the university made the move in violation of Title IX, the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in education, and as retribution for the coach repeatedly raising concerns about the school's unequal treatment of male and female athletes. A Quinnipiac spokesperson said the university does not comment on litigation.
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