Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi has hit out at Scotland Rugby after allowing trans players to compete in full-contact matches with biological women and girls. Scotland is the only country in the UK that allows transgender women to compete in full-contact rugby.
As a result governing bodies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland stipulate that only players born female can compete in women’s matches. As a result, Scotland’s decision has been scrutinised by Antoniazzi, who believes it could lead to more serious injuries.
Antoniazzi herself is a former rugby player, having been capped nine caps for her country Wales as a prop forward.
On the matter, the MP for Gower said: “We're talking about a high impact sport, with full-blooded games. You cannot just apply the mantra of 'being kind' or that trans women are women to rugby – it has to be sex segregated.
“The fact that there are trans women in Scotland playing women's rugby I find absolutely appalling. It should not be happening. There are already enough risks.”
Currently, female rugby players are unable to be told if they are going up against a trans opponent due to strict confidentiality rules. The Welsh MP went on: “Governing bodies, which are mainly led by men, want to be seen to do the right thing... But they need to come to a decision – based on fairness and safety of women and girls in sport – and soon."
Following the criticism, a spokesperson for Scottish Rugby addressed the matter, revealing they are in the process of ‘reviewing’ their ‘gender participation policy’.
Per Sportsmail , the governing body said: “Scottish Rugby is in the process of reviewing its existing gender participation policy in the light of emerging guidance.
"We are currently having conversations with members of the rugby community who could be most affected by any change to the policy to help us understand views across this subject.”
