The leadership of USA Rugby has made the difficult decision to declare bankruptcy due to the ongoing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The unprecedented situation has significantly affected sports worldwide, including the thriving rugby community in the United States.
In a recent move, the board opted to initiate chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings citing overwhelming financial pressures stemming from the pandemic. Since March 20, USA Rugby had suspended all matches and competitions indefinitely in response to the crisis.
Barbara O’Brien, the chairperson of the organization, emphasized the severity of the situation in a statement to the media. She acknowledged the considerable challenges the organization is currently facing and underscored the necessity of the decision. O’Brien expressed a commitment to working closely with stakeholders and supporters to foster a sustainable rugby environment conducive to the sport’s growth despite the tough circumstances.
The immediate future for USA Rugby involves a restructuring phase in collaboration with World Rugby to navigate through the recovery process. Both the men’s and women’s national teams are expected to resume their competitive schedules once normalcy returns, albeit the exact timeline remains uncertain due to the rescheduling of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to summer 2021.
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