Transgender athletes will be banned from competing in women's international matches after the International Rugby League (IRL) followed swimming's example at the elite standard.
The IRL announced the change on Tuesday but said it will use this year's Rugby League World Cup "to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy." For the time being, however, the new rules will prevent transitioned players from competing in women's Test games.
The decision reflects a recent trend among senior sports bodies that have revised their policies in regards to trans participation. IAAF President Seb Coe has suggested athletics could follow FINA —the world's governing body for swimming—by barring trans athletes from women's competitions.
