TRU Men’s D4 and Women’s D3 Division Regulations

Updated September 2025

These growth-oriented divisions are intended to encourage clubs to field developmental sides in addition to the sides they field in USA Rugby National Championship Competition, and to provide a division for small and newly formed clubs to build towards inclusion in USA Rugby National Championship Competition

We recommend that all clubs familiarize themselves with the Resources page and the Operating Policies in addition to the below policies. Clubs are responsible for all normal policies.

Men’s D4 Competition Rules:

• North (DFW), South (Houston metroplex) and Hybrid MD3/4 competitions
• Playoff format published annually on TRU website
• All matches will be included in USA Rugby’s Competition Management System (currently Rugby Xplorer) and all policies surrounding CMS* will be followed:
  • Rugby Xplorer (RX) Introduction
  • CMS Lock Policy

Player eligibility:

• All players must be registered with USA Rugby and TRU.
• Teams may borrow guest players from other teams without the match being declared a forfeit. Players must be of age to play Senior grade rugby and must be Registered.
  • Guest players must appear on the club’s CMS rosters.
  • Note that Weekly registration is available and Season registration does not require a clearance to/from TRU Men’s D4-only (“MD4”) or Women’s D3-only (“WD3”) clubs
• No limitations on player movement for multi-side clubs, and games may be played before or after upper division matches.
• No guest players may be used in the playoff rounds.
• To compete in the playoffs, a player must have played in at least two (2) league matches for their playoff club. These matches must have been entered in the CMS with the player appearing on the roster. 
• Mid-Season Registration Transfers from MD4/WD3 to Upper Division Clubs
  • To allow players who are registered with TRU Men’s D4-only (“MD4”) or Women’s D3-only (“WD3”) clubs, and who want to try playing at a higher level of fifteen-a-side rugby, an opportunity to apply to transfer their registrations to a different TRU club that plays in a USA Rugby national championship pathway.
  • Transferring players seeking to play with their new clubs in the USA Rugby playoffs must meet all match minimum eligibility requirements with their new clubs without reference to the matches played with the clubs from which they transferred.
  • A player who is allowed to transfer under this Rule may return and play with his or her MD4 or WD3 team and not be treated as a “guest player” under the TRU’s eligibility rules of MD4/WD3.

Point system for regular season matches:

Based on performance (including forfeits and use of guest players), clubs may be eligible for promotion to RRRC divisions RRRC sides may be relegated to TRU competition, per RRRC promotion-relegation policies.

Women’s D3 Specific Competition Rules

The women’s D3 generally follows the above guidelines but also uses the linked specifications.