What is .rugby?
.rugby entered the DNS root zone on April 7, 2017, 9 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
On the technical side, .rugby is served by 6 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .rugby, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.rugby).
.rugby FAQ
What does .rugby mean?
.rugby is a generic top-level domain named for the word "rugby", and it's aimed at sports & games. It doesn't belong to any country.
What is .rugby used for?
.rugby is mostly used for sports & games. Like most gTLDs, it's a label of intent rather than a guarantee — check the site, not just the ending.
What country is .rugby?
None. .rugby is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .rugby domain extension?
World Rugby Strategic Developments Limited operates .rugby as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .rugby created?
.rugby was delegated to the DNS root zone on April 7, 2017.
Is .rugby a valid domain?
Yes. .rugby is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2017, so .rugby addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .rugby domain?
.rugby names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read World Rugby Strategic Developments Limited's policy if you're unsure.
Is .rugby DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .rugby.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed January 21, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
