Ongoing: Sign the Change.org petition Keep Rugby Open to Trans Women Athletes (approaching 25,000 signatures)
Open Letter to World Rugby:
We believe that rugby is a “sport for all.” As International Rugby Athletes, we love the game and have dedicated years of our lives to it, including doing the work that leaves rugby better than we found it. We are deeply committed to equity and access for all girls and women, including trans girls and women.
This is why we firmly oppose World Rugby’s reversal of inclusive policies that have allowed transgender women to train and compete in women’s rugby for decades.
The proposed Guideline is at odds with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and World Rugby’s current policies. Both require elite trans women athletes to maintain testosterone levels in the typical range for women for a year prior to competing and throughout competitions.
The two reasons cited for this sudden shift are player welfare and performance disadvantage concerns. Yet, there are no reported safety incidents involving elite trans women, and no anecdotal or scientific evidence that trans women are dominating the sport.
Because this policy update is unnecessary, we call on the World Rugby Council to:
reject the proposed Guideline;
work with researchers, ethicists, and advocacy groups that do not promote anti-trans rhetoric; and
sponsor evidence-based research on trans athletes that leads to more inclusive guidelines.
Until then, we endorse the current policy supported by International Gay Rugby.
Reject the proposed Transgender Guideline because:
The Guideline contradicts World Rugby’s values.
The starting point for this Guideline is flawed and not aligned with rugby’s values of integrity, respect, and solidarity. It is impossible for World Rugby to promote women’s “equity on and off the field” while proposing a ban on transgender women that reflects outdated stereotypes about women being small, weak, or in need of special protections in sport.
Women rugby players are strong, fast, and capable. Playing elite rugby requires discipline and passion; and any woman, including a transgender woman, who has earned the opportunity to play should be able to take it.
The Guideline will harm ALL women.
The National Women’s Law Center states, “When any girl or woman is denied an opportunity, the rights of all girls and women are at risk.” This Guideline invites gender policing, subjecting any woman to the indignities of accusations and intrusive examinations.
This question, as part of a survey sent to elite players, illustrates the slippery slope well. “Are you aware of, or do you suspect, that you have ever played with or against a transwoman [sic] (i.e. born with male appearance and identifying as a woman)?”
Will players who are too tall, too powerful, or too masculine be questioned on whether we belong? Will this guideline disproportionately affect our Black, Brown, and Indigenous teammates who are already targeted for not conforming to racist and sexist stereotypes of femininity? How good can we be before we are no longer seen as women?
To empower women and girls in rugby, let’s eliminate the issues that are undoubtedly barriers to equity, safety, and fairness. Matters like the lack of funding, lack of access to quality fields and equipment, sexual abuse and harassment, low commercial exposure, and underrepresentation in coaching and leadership roles.
The Guideline does not reflect that trans women have been safely playing women’s rugby for decades.
The world’s largest union - the RFU - has yet to report a single safety event involving a transgender player. Without evidence-based research and injury data, a case for player welfare cannot be substantiated.
The beauty of rugby is that there’s a place for bodies of all sizes, shapes, and strengths. Transgender women have a wide range of body types, just as other women do. Without testosterone levels in the range of cis men, a tall trans woman on the pitch is simply a tall woman on the pitch. This should not be an issue, because there are no height or weight limits for rugby, nor should there be.
The Guideline bans transgender athletes without studying transgender athletes.
Trans women are women; they are not cis men or “biological males”. Much of the cited research points to physical differences between cis women and cis men. It then draws conclusions based on the misguided principle that trans women are physiologically comparable to cis men. No studies in the Guideline included trans athletes or even athletes playing rugby. It is unreasonable to put a ban in place with no scientific support for it.
The Guideline would be in direct opposition to some international, national, territorial, state/provincial, and local laws.
In June, the highest court in the United States issued a decision ruling that LGBTQIA employees are protected from workplace discrimination under existing federal law. States and cities that house our elite programs also have laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. Additionally, prohibiting transgender athletes’ participation may violate state and national public accommodations and disability discrimination laws.
We are not alone in this. The Canadian Human Rights Act, Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act, Argentina’s La Ley de Identidad de Género, and the Equality Act in the UK also protect transgender people against discrimination. Several other countries and cultures officially recognize more than two genders.
The Guideline is a human rights violation.
The Olympic Charter states: “The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit....”
To reject an entire group of people without conclusive scientific support further dehumanizes a community already on the margins. Across the globe, transgender, non-binary, and intersex people face extreme rates of discrimination, persecution, and violence just for existing. Instead of reproducing structural oppression, we must build policies that imagine something bolder.
World Rugby said it best when it wrote:
“It is impossible to consider rugby a sport for all without focusing on the importance of diversity and inclusion. Where barriers to entry or unconscious bias exist, even if unintentional, then the sport is no longer for all and runs the risk of becoming not only homogenized but viewed as exclusive and even discriminatory.”
As the international athlete community (and supporters), we refuse to be complicit in this harmful Guideline. We choose to lead our communities with courage and integrity toward a vision of rugby as a truly inclusive, welcoming sport that values everybody, every body, and the humanity of our players.
With you,
USA Rugby International Athlete Council (USA)
US Rugby Players Association (USA)
Women’s Premier League (USA)
XV Foundation (USA)
United States Women’s Rugby Foundation (USA)
Key Supporters
International Gay Rugby (IGR)
Gender Minorities Aotearoa (NZ)
Women’s Sports Foundation (USA)
Athlete Ally (USA)
Proud 2 Play (AUS)
Women In Rugby, Inc (USA)
Austria
Marlies Lengauer
Brazil
Isadora Cerullo, Brazil 7s, Brazil Rugby Athlete Commission member, Olympian
Canada
Colette McAuley, Canada 7s and 15s, former Asst Coach WNT 15s
Benjamin Skinner, Canada Rugby League National Team, Raven 40
Arielle Dubissette-Borrice, Canada 15s
Sophie de Goede, Canada 15s
Colombia
Nathalie Marchino, Colombia 7s, Olympian | USA 7s, Eagle 163
Czech Republic
Félix Pavlenko
Denmark
Lara Bnayane
Hong Kong
Colleen Tjosvold, Hong Kong 7s and 15s
Ka Yan Chen, Hong Kong 15s
Japan
Chiharu Nakamura, Japan 7s, Olympian
Mexico
San Juanita Moreno Elguezabal, Mexico, Serpiente 77 | USA 7s, Eagle 165
Anabel Diaz, Mexico, Serpiente 3 | WER USA
The Netherlands
Annelies Acda, The Netherlands 15s, National Board Member
Michelle Borm, The Netherlands 15s
Saskia Herrmann, The Netherlands 15s
Philippines
Volney Rouse, Philippines 7s | USA, Eagle 417
Josh Sutcliffe, Philippines 15s
Jacqueline Finlan, Philippines 7s
Omi Carrillo, Philippines 7s | WER USA
Sweden
Tyra Norlander, Sweden 7s and 15s
Switzerland
Christa Herrmann, Suisse 7s and 15s, Rugby Europe - Women's Committee Secretary, Suisse Rugby - Women's Commission President
Carole Casparis, Suisse 7s and 15s, Suisse 112
UK
Jade Konkel, Scotland 15s
Andrea Maynard, UK 7s and 15s
USA
Irene Gardner, USA 7s, USAR Board
Shalom Suniula, USA 7s, Eagle 451, USAR Board
Jamie Burke, Eagle 140, Asst Coach WNT 15s, USAR Board
Denis Shanagher, USA 7s, Inaugural Men’s 7s, Eagle 122, USAR Board
Phaidra Knight, USA 7s, Eagle 99, ex-USAR Board, World Rugby Hall of Fame
Patty Jervey, Eagle 25, World Rugby Hall of Fame
Pam Kosanke, USA 7s, Eagle 143, ex-USAR Board
Kevin Swiryn, USA 7s, Eagle 406, ex-USAR Board
Christy Ringgenberg, USA 7s, Eagle 191, ex-USAR Board
Mary Dixey, Eagle 43, ex-USAR Board, USAR Hall of Fame,1991 World Cup Champion
Alexandra Williams, Eagle 69, former Asst Coach WNT 15s, former USA Women’s HP Director, ex-USAR Board, USAR Hall of Fame
Kathy Flores, Eagle 5, Inaugural WNT 15s member, former Head Coach WNT 15s, 1991 World Cup Champion
Colleen Fahey, Eagle 44, 1991 World Cup Champion
Krista McFarren, USA 7s, Eagle 25, 1991 World Cup Champion
Mary Sullivan, Eagle 15, Inaugural WNT 15s member,1991 World Cup Champion
Val Sullivan, Eagle 48, 1991 World Cup Champion
Kevin O’Brien, former Head Coach WNT 15s, 1991 World Cup Champion
Annie Flavin, Eagle 4, Inaugural WNT 15s member, 1991 World Cup Champion
Jennifer Levi, Eagle 40, 1991 World Cup Champion
Deborah Dennis, Eagle 2, Inaugural WNT (1987)
Kerri Heffernan, Eagle 7, Inaugural WNT (1987)
Mary Money, Eagle 10, Inaugural WNT (1987)
K.O. Onufry, Eagle 16, Inaugural WNT (1987)
Alev Kelter, USA 7s, Eagle 256, Olympian
Jillion Potter, USA 7s, Eagle 173, Olympian
Victoria Folayan, USA 7s, Eagle 187, Olympian
Carmen Farmer, USA 7s, Eagle 222, Olympian
Ryan Carlyle, USA 7s, Eagle 215, Olympian
Kelly Griffin, USA 7s, Eagle 263, Olympian
Elena Taylor, USA 7s, 3x Olympic medalist in Bobsled
Kate Zackary, USA 7s, Eagle 257, Eagle 15s Captain
Kristine Sommer, USA 7s, Eagle 264, XVF Co-founder
Alycia Washington, Eagle 237, XVF Co-founder
Rachel Johnson, Eagle 270
Evan Hoese, Eagle 279
Kris Thomas, USA 7s, Eagle 260
Gabby Cantorna, Eagle 268
Sarah Levy, Eagle 280
Kathryn Treder, Eagle 294
Olivia Ortiz, Eagle 289
Nikki Kenyon, USA 7s, Eagle 274
Charli Jacoby, Eagle 288
Nick James, Eagle 265
Lisa Jackson, USA 15s pool
Nichole Wanamaker, USA 15s pool
Saher Hamdan, Eagle 299
Sam Luther, USA 15s pool, XVF Board
Evi Ashenbrucker, USA 15s pool
Emilie Bydwell, USA 7s, Eagle 175
Robert Cain, Head Coach WNT 15s
Kate Daley, Eagle 194, Asst Coach WNT 15s, 2014 World Cup Captain
Jenny Lui, USA 7s, Eagle 210, Asst Coach WNT 15s
Richard Ashfield, Asst Coach WNT 15s
Sylvia Braaten, USA 7s, Eagle 203, S&C Coach WNT 15s
Callum Howells, Wales | USA, WNT 15s Analyst
Tiff Faaee, Eagle 246, 2017 World Cup captain
Elizabeth Kirk, Eagle 75, former Asst Coach WNT 152
Vanesha McGee, former USA 7s Captain, Eagle 164
Farrah Douglas, USA 7s, Eagle 159, former Asst Coach WNT
Shaina Turley, USA 7s, Eagle 168, former WNT captain
Kittery Wagner-Ruiz, USA 7s, Eagle 192
Nancy Fitz, USA 7s, World Rugby trainer, Eagle 80
Katie Dowty, USA 7s, Eagle 202
Jen Sinkler, USA 7s, Eagle 115
Sarah Chobot, USA 7s, Eagle 198
Ashley Griffin, USA 7s, Eagle 118
Amanda Street, USA 7s, Eagle 220
Deven O’Crump, USA 7s, Eagle 225
Kaelene Bavery-Lundstrum, USA 7s, Eagle 204
Christiane Pheil, USA 7s, Eagle 249
Kimber Rozier, USA 7s, Eagle 207
Val Griffeth, USA 7s, Eagle 209
Sheri Hunt, USA 7s, Eagle 64
Tyshawn Henry, USA 7s, Eagle 137
Sharon Blaney, Eagle 186
Kim Magrini, Eagle 162
Naima Reddick, Eagle 195
Kathryn Augustyn, Eagle 208
Hannah Stolba, Eagle 190
Sarah Wilson, Eagle 212
Lauren Daly, Eagle 201
Melanie Denham, Eagle 176
Mari Triplett, Eagle
Megan Himan, Eagle 104
Hannah Harper, USA 7s
Helen Rose Miesner, Eagle 211
Sue Landsittel, Eagle 129
Tia Blythe, USA 7s
Amy Westerman, Eagle 58
Allyson Sutkowi-Hemstreet, Eagle 183
Anne McClain, Eagle 138
Amanda Kingzett, Eagle 229
Linda Coulter, Eagle 59
Christina G Hobson, Eagle 180
Anne Collier, Eagle 131
Dana Meschisi, USA 7s, USA Touch
Sarah Stone, Eagle 182
Dana Creager, USA 7s
Carrie White, Eagle 206
Kerry McCabe, Eagle 85
Stacy Baker, Eagle 156
Cade Hildreth, USA 7s
Katie Stewart, Eagle 122
Lisa Lake, Eagle 127
Jenny Menke, Eagle 193
Liberty Caplan, Eagle 124
Yancy Hammond Graf, USA 7s
Jessica Hammond-Graf, USA 7s
Heather Hale, Eagle 108
Meredith Ottens, Eagle 87
Wendy Young, USA A
Andrew Durutalo, USA 7s, Eagle 426, Olympian
Zack Test, USA 7s, Eagle 462, Olympian
Anthony Ridnell, USA 7s, Eagle 168
Andrew Suniula, USA 7s, Eagle 397
Miles Craigwell, USA 7s
Seamus Kelly, Eagle 440
Zach Fenoglio, Eagle 436
Colin Hawley, USA 7s, Eagle 410
Peter Tiberio, USA 7s, Eagle 510
Olive Kilifi, Eagle 447
Referees
Dana Teagarden, USA, former World Rugby referee
Emily Hsieh, USA | New Zealand, World Rugby referee
Nick Ricono, USA, former World Rugby referee
Cisco Lopez, USA, World Rugby referee
Olivia Rogers, USA, former World Rugby referee
Amanda Cox, USA, World Rugby TMO
Mike Kelly, USA, former World Rugby referee
Paul Murphy, RFU, former World Rugby referee
Amelia Luciano, USA, World Rugby referee
Marc Nelson, USA, former World Rugby referee
Davey Ardrey, USA, former World Rugby referee/TMO
Leah Berard, USA, former World Rugby referee
Community
Lauren Wolman, Rugby Canada
Karl Ainscough-Gates, International Gay Rugby Chair
Katheryn Phillips, USA, Austin Walks, DC Furies, first openly trans player in the US
Phoenix Otterwolf, USA,
Michael Agnew, USA, Boston Ironsides
Crystal Ho, Santa Barbara Women’s Rugby
Amanda Shugart, USA
Bailey McCoy, USA
Josephine Lange, USA
Zoe Eprile, USA, Jacksonville Sinners
Maggie Saucedo, USA
Destiny Rosa, USA
Alejandra Herrera, USA
Caleigh Hoffmann, USA
Amanda Medina Segura, USA
Erin Woods, USA, Occidental College Womxn's Rugby Team
Ellie McKinney, USA
Julia Driscoll, USA
Rachael Barich, USA
Becky Lee Birtwhistle Hodges, USA
Mari Triplett, USA, UC Berkeley
Elisabeth Miller, USA
Emily Strahan, USA
Kelly Mackenzie, USA, Raleigh Rugby
Eryn Upton, USA
Kirsten Franzen, USA
Amelia Lyons, USA
Nadia Popov, Canada, University of Calgary
Elise Orange, USA, SHARCs
Callie Flynn, USA
Nina Rao, USA
Julia Taylor, USA
Madison Ventura, USA
Madeleine Bullen, USA
Sara Brown, USA
Cassie Reyna, USA, Texas A&M
Abbye Pittser, USA
Mackenzie Nelson, USA, Texas A&M
Jessica Fahsholrz, USA
Vennela Gajjala, USA
Jamelia Reed, USA
Katelin Schellhorn, USA, Texas A&M
Bonnie Richardson, USA
Gillian Sitler, USA, Texas A&M
Meg Griffin, USA, Houston Athletic Club
Begoña Mur Berroy, USA
Patty Stratton, USA
Elizabeth Brack, USA
Kate Prostrollo, USA
Kebbeh Darpolor, USA
Caitlin Robinson, USA
Delia Nava, USA
Rebecca Carcano, USA, Texas A&M
Sallie Buckner, USA, SHARCs
Elizabeth Shields, USA
Sheri Hunt, USA, Rugby South, So Cal Griffins
Val Sullivan, USA
Mary Sullivan, USA
Lauren Sluss, USA
Lisa Rosen, USA
Bethany Schull, USA
Allison Vaughn, USA
Julia Melcher, USA
Rachel Baumgarten, USA
YOUR NAME, COUNTRY, Thank you for speaking up <3