Life

Trans women banned from full-contact rugby in England

By Conor Clark

1st August 2022

Transgender women have been banned from full-contact rugby from next season following a narrow vote by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

The council approved the recommendations on 29 July by a vote of 33 to 26 with two abstenations.

Jeff Blackett, the RFU president, said: “Inclusion is at the heart of rugby values and we will continue to work with everyone to keep listening, learning and finding ways to demonstrate there is a place for everyone in our game.

“We know that many will be disappointed by this decision, however, it has been based on all the scientific evidence available.

“Our game can be strengthened by everyone who is involved; be it in coaching, refereeing, administration or supporting and playing non-contact forms of the game.”

Until now, the RFU, which is the governing body of the union code in England, allowed some trans women to compete in what was essentially done so under a case-by-case basis.

 

Julie Curtiss, one of the seven trans women who were registered to play in England, joined a group of protesters outside Twickenham Stadium on the day of the vote.

“They have missed a one-time only opportunity to demonstrate their genuine commitment to diversity in the sport,” she said. “They have refused to engage with a minority group to try to find a way to expand the game into new areas.”

Children will still be able to compete in the same teams up until the age of 12.

The changes are similar to recent swimming updates by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) and bring the RFU in line with World Rugby’s guidelines.

A new policy was also approved by the Rugby Football League (RFL) and will come into effect in August before being reviewed in November 2024.

“The RFL has concluded a wide-ranging consultation with interested parties, Government, stakeholders, participants and individuals who continue to engage with us on this complex area,” it said in a statement.

“We also greatly empathise with the personal journeys that individuals have experienced, in sport and in society, and we will continue to endeavour to work with all those actively involved to help us in developing our future policies, research and work in this area to ensure rugby league remains inclusive for all.”