Leading academics have attacked World Rugby’s proposals to ban trans women and non-binary people from the sport. They say there is ‘no evidence’ that trans women pose a safety risk to other female rugby players.
Moreover they say it discriminates against vulnerable trans and non-binary people. Last month a draft World Rugby document leaked that argued trans women shouldn’t be able to play alongside cis women.
It claimed trans women had a ‘significant’ physical advantage. However, it concluded that trans men could still compete with cis male players.
Now 84 leading academics – including from the fields of sport, public health and sociology – have criticized World Rugby’s plans.