Michelle Donnelly, Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Brock University, and Bruce Kidd, Professor of Kinesiology at University of Toronto, had a piece recently published in The Conversation about the decision by World Rugby to ban trans players from participating in women’s events.

They write:

“The attack on gender-diverse women in sports has gained prominent support by the recent decision from World Rugby to ban transgender women from international women’s competition.

The ban perpetuates the harmful gender policing that has plagued women’s sport for more than a century. By limiting trans women’s participation in elite level rugby, World Rugby is sending the inaccurate and discriminatory message that trans women do not belong in women’s rugby — and that trans women are not women.

Academics around the world have condemned World Rugby’s decision. National bodies like USA Rugby and Rugby Canada have said they would ignore the ban in domestic competitions.

Other respected sports bodies, like the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport and Canadian Women and Sport, have promoted policies that are more inclusive for trans athletes.”

Continue reading the full article here.