RFU drafts plan to risk-assess transgender players

The RFL's board approved its new policy which will come into effect in August.

The RFU's council voted on Friday to pass its new policy for the 2022-23 season, with "33 in favour, 26 against and two abstaining".

About 30 protestors gathered at the RFU's headquarters at Twickenham Stadium before the vote.

The RFL's new "Gender Participation Policy" applies to contact rugby league from Under-12s and above, while the RFU's guidance kicks-in for Under-12s and above.

There are currently six transgender women playing senior rugby union.

The RFU, the governing body of the union code in England, had previously recommended a ban.

On Friday, the council passed policy which will "only permit players in the female category if the sex originally recorded at birth is female".

"The RFU Council has determined that until such time as new further peer-reviewed science is available, a precautionary approach is appropriate to ensure fair competition and safety of all competitors," a statement said.

This follows World Rugby's stance - which in 2020 became the first international sports federation to say transgender women cannot compete at the elite and international level of the women's game.

A group of protestors were at Twickenham on Friday to share their support for the trans community before the vote.

The RFU began a two-year review into its current policy in autumn 2020, which included a game-wide survey that received over 11,000 responses, considered scientific evidence and sought guidance from other sporting bodies.

"This science provides the basis of the new gender participation policy that concludes the inclusion of trans people originally recorded male at birth in female contact rugby cannot be balanced against considerations of safety and fairness," the RFU said.

It added that is had been "a complex and difficult decision and the policy change was not taken lightly or without thorough and full research and consultation".

RFU president Jeff Blackett said: "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."

The RFU said there were discussions of evaluating a case-by-case system but said: "In light of the research findings and work of World Rugby and the UK Sports Councils, and given the difficulties in identifying a credible test to assess physiological variables, this is no longer a viable option at this time and does not necessarily ensure inclusion."

The RFU added: "In the male category, players whose sex recorded at birth is female may play if they provide their written consent and a risk assessment is carried out."

The governing body has also contacted the transgender women players who are registered to play in England "to offer its support in continuing to encourage them to participate in the sport".

The RFU also said it will be conducting more research: "RFU is committed to working with World Rugby and UK Sports Councils to ensure further research is conducted and to reviewing the policy on a regular basis."

In July, the governing body's council voted to "only permit players in the female category if the sex originally recorded at birth is female".

Transgender player Julie Curtiss has mounted a legal challenge against the decision, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The RFU says it will "robustly defend" the case.

The Telegraph said that Curtiss has issued the RFU with a pre-action protocol letter, a legal document written to resolve a dispute before court proceedings start.

She says the policy discriminates against her under section seven of the Equality Act 2010.