Quinnipiac women’s rugby players sue school after program is dropped from varsity to club level

Members of the Quinnipiac women's rugby team filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Connecticut on Friday seeking the reinstatement of the program's varsity status. The lawsuit alleges the university made the move in violation of Title IX and as retribution for the coach repeatedly raising concerns about the school's unequal treatment of male and female athletes. The school announced in April that women's rugby would go from varsity to club status in 2026-27, while adding a men's indoor and outdoor distance program. Named as plaintiffs are 16 players from the 2025 roster and seven incoming freshmen. The lawsuit alleges that the rugby and other women's teams do not receive the same support as men's teams in areas such as facilities, equipment, travel, medical services, and strength and conditioning. Coach Becky Carlson repeatedly raised concerns about unequal treatment to the administration, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit states that the university's 'retaliatory elimination of the women's varsity rugby team also chills Plaintiffs, proposed class members, witnesses, and other students from raising, supporting, participating in, or pursuing Title IX complaints or this litigation.'

(Source：WTOP)