Transgender women have been banned from competing in female rugby competitions across England. The announcement has been made following new recommendations from the RFU, which initially allowed some transgender women to play women’s rugby, but they had to apply on a case-by-case basis.
But following the conclusion of a two-year review, the RFU Council will now follow the recommendation that anyone whose sex was assigned as male at birth, will be prohibited from participating in girl’s or women’s rugby. That coincides with World Rugby’s guidelines and is similar to those announced by the international swimming federation, Fina.
The World Rugby rules state: “Transgender women may not currently play women’s rugby… because of the size, force and power-producing advantages conferred by testosterone during puberty and adolescence, and the resultant player welfare risks this creates.” The RFU said that it “has contacted registered trans female players, on whom the policy will have a direct impact to offer its support in continuing to encourage them to participate in the sport”.
