USA Rugby adopts T1 non-contact format to build grassroots base before 2031 and 2033 World Cups

USA Rugby and USA Youth & High School Rugby have formally adopted T1 Rugby as the official non-contact version of the game in the United States, positioning the format as a grassroots engine in the build-up to the men’s Rugby World Cup 2031 and women’s Rugby World Cup 2033, both of which will be hosted on American soil.

Developed by World Rugby and launched in 2023, T1 replaces tackling with touches or flags while retaining the sport’s core principles. Played seven-a-side on a half-pitch, the format targets schools, clubs, youth organisations and recreation departments as a low-barrier entry point into rugby.

USA Youth & High School Rugby Executive Director Giovanni Vaglietti described T1 as a direct pipeline into the established club structure. “T1 is uniquely suited to be rugby’s major growth mechanism for mass participation within the United States,” he said. “From there, a local T1 league ties directly back into the club and SYRO ecosystem, turning that first introduction into a love for the game that lasts forever.”

Vaglietti also highlighted the format’s flexibility, noting that experienced and new players can compete together, and that its mixed-gender design broadens the pool of potential participants beyond traditional youth pathways.

World Rugby Development Director Jason Lewis said the format had already demonstrated its reach since launch. “With over 90 national unions already playing and trialling T1 Rugby since its 2023 launch, the game is proving to be a powerful universal tool for youth engagement and retention,” Lewis said. “The formal adoption by USA Rugby and USA Youth and High Schools marks a significant global milestone.”

USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren framed the move as a deliberate step in the governing body’s World Cup preparation strategy. “We’re excited to partner with USA Youth & High School Rugby on the launch of T1 Rugby, to open a new door for people to find and fall in love with the game,” Goren said. “The adaptable and welcoming nature of T1 is a great avenue for youth programs and organizations to add rugby into their current curriculums.”

With two Rugby World Cups less than a decade away, the adoption signals a concerted effort by American rugby administrators to convert the anticipated surge in public interest into lasting participation numbers at the community level.