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'A complex and emotive process': World Rugby backs guidelines to exclude transgender women from elite competitions
By Online Editors
World Rugby has become the first global sports federation to recommend that transgender women do not participate in the elite and international levels of the women's game.
The organisation published a statement on Saturday that, while not strictly banning their inclusion in elite teams, recommended they be excluded "on safety grounds".
However, national unions have been allowed to make their own policy decisions at the community level of the game while transgender men remain permitted to play men's contact rugby in all forms.
The organisation's new policy comes after what it describes as a "comprehensive, collaborative and inclusive review" of existing guidance that concluded that "safety and fairness cannot presently be assured for women competing against transwomen in contact rugby".
It added it was committed to "regularly reviewing the guidance to monitor and consider any new evidence or research".
"This has been a complex and emotive process, but a necessary one," said Dr Araba Chintoh, who chaired the review.
"We set out to determine whether it would be possible to maintain inclusion in contact rugby based on the available research and evidence and rugby's unique context of combining strength, power, speed and endurance in a physical, collision environment.
"As we progressed through a comprehensive and inclusive review, it became clear there are compelling evidenced safety considerations which we simply cannot ignore.
"Unions will be able to exercise flexibility on a case-by-case basis at the community level of the game, for which the unions are responsible, while World Rugby will continue to prioritise inclusion strategies to ensure that the trans community remain an active, welcome and important member of the rugby family."
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont added: "Rugby is a welcoming and inclusive sport and, while this has been a difficult decision to make, it has been taken following comprehensive consultation and engagement and for the right reasons, given the risk of injury.
"That said, we recognise that the science continues to evolve, and we are committed to regularly reviewing these guidelines, always seeking to be inclusive."
World Rugby's previous transgender policy followed the International Olympic Committee's policy, which currently states that transgender women must suppress testosterone levels for at least 12 months before competition.
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Latest Comments
I agree it needs looked it. Most clubs and nations are now identifying talent long before they are capped and directly influencing what country they represent. Not all teams obviously but it's certainly a trend.
It used to be that an electric 22 years old winger would announce himself for the ABs by scoring on debut in the July tests. Announce themselves on the big stage playing for their country. Nowadays if they’re scouted at 14 or 15 and developed elsewhere, you've no idea where they may end up.
Most young talent I see nowadays I have to Google them to get an idea of what international Jersey they might even wear.
The only thing that keeps the discussion on Ice is probably the boks. They don't go overseas for talent and their RWC record speaks for itself. On the flipside most of their talent plays club rugby outside of SA which is another can of worms.
Go to commentsAgreed. Just to add to that the hitherto leaky Crisaders defence was resolute and enabled them to establish an amazing 31 to zip lead at the 60 minute mark. A couple of late lapses allowed the dangerous Drua attack to reduce the final margin somewhat but the game was virtually won by then. Only criticism would be the number of handling mistakes made but the steamy playing conditions probably contributed to that. Not many teams come away from Suva with such a comfortable margin. Pity they were unable to show the same fortitude against Moana.
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