ban on trans women and girls back in October 2020 due to ‘significant risk of injury’ for cis women, I was both devastated and frustrated.
The ban means that any trans women and girls cannot play at an elite level or international level of the game.This landmark ruling rippled through the trans community, as well as through people who had supported World Rugby.
We knew the danger this ban could have on players and equality in the sport as a whole. I tried to have chest surgery when I was both 19 and 23, but I was told by coaching staff that if I came out as trans, I would lose my ability to play the sport.
This was upheld as there were no policies to support trans inclusion in the early 90s. I lost my parents young – my dad died of lung cancer when I was 17 – and my mum, who was ill most of my life, when I was in my 20s.