Transgender conundrum continues...

It seems that transgender women can continue to play women’s club rugby in England, following a ruling from the RFU.

Just last week World Rugby ruled that trans women could no longer play elite rugby after an 8 month review concluded that the risk of significant injury to non-transgender women was too great.

The RFU’s position, however, appears to be that further scientific evidence is required as to the risk of injury, as well as further consultation with players in the women’s game. 

The decision means that, provided they meet certain testosterone level criteria, trans women can continue playing women’s club rugby in England for now, although they will still not be allowed to be selected for international rugby which is controlled by World Rugby.

It’s a hugely tricky one.

On the one hand to exclude transgender women from the game would appear to be an open and shut case of discrimination. On the other hand there is potentially a fairly massive player welfare issue to consider.

As I’ve said before, I can’t pretend to have the answers to this one…

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was