World Rugby to tighten trans policy

Transgender women were last night facing further curbs on playing women’s rugby, amid fears that the sport’s rules could lead to serious injuries.

World Rugby yesterday announced a “comprehensive review” of its policy on transgender players, which allows trans women to play women’s rugby provided they reduce their testosterone levels. The review, which will include a forum staged in London next week, follows the emergence of evidence that muscle strength remained relatively high in trans women who had undergone hormone treatment.

It was also reported this season that referees were quitting the women’s game over fears that rules allowing trans women to play would lead to serious injuries. A trans player, Kelly Morgan, even admitted she may have an advantage in terms of size and strength, telling the BBC: “I do feel guilty, but I don’t go out to hurt anybody. I just want to play rugby.” The founder of Porth Harlequins Ladies, for whom Morgan has played, joked in the same article about her injuring teammates in training.

Most unions have policies that players born male who now identify as female must have testosterone below 5nmol/litre for at least a year before being allowed to play women’s rugby. But a Swedish study last year found that after 12 months of hormone therapy a trans woman was still likely to have performance benefits over someone whose gender identity matched her sex at birth.

Citing “the latest research”, World Rugby said: “It is important for contact sports such as rugby to find an appropriate position for player welfare and risk.”

The governing body said it was consulting with expert voices and the global women’s game ahead of next week’s forum, that would “bring together independent experts and leaders in the fields of sports science, biology, medicine, ethics and law, as well as rugby administration, medical and playing representatives”.