In the case of rugby, this makes sense. In contact sports someone could end up getting badly injured.
I think the unfortunate problem for transgender athletes is that allowing them into women’s sport would just be too open to abuse. There’s no way to come up with a cut off point that’s fair.
Maybe a completely separate league where women accept transgender are part of the make up and accept that risk.
Just saw the Twitter thread on it
It is, predictably, a shitshow
Could you imagine the size of the pack otherwise.
It’d be a massacre at scrum time.
I know this will receive a number of down votes but thought I would throw in my 2 cents.
As a traditional scrum half (small af) I have always played against much larger women. They have been taller/heavier than I but it didn’t stop me and it was the same as a tackle from anyone. If they are not getting low and tackle too high there will be a penalty/cards if needs be. This was an advantage for me as bigger players take longer to get low. Tackling bigger players wasn’t an issue either. Get low and they will fall. There have been times where I haven’t used proper technique and have bounced off them but that was my fault.
The thing about rugby is you learn what works best for you as a play. I know I am fast and use that. I have seen men not much bigger than me play against bigger men and they have the same attitude.
People only seem to care about womens sports and want to “protect” us but they have never once stood up for all the inequality we face as women playing spot.
I think its important to point out that the article says this will impact two registered players. According to Google, there were 194,000 registered players as at 2018.
It’s obviously shit for those two but it really gets blown out of proportion as an issue on all sides of the debate
Edit – I’m trying to find the link again to where it said there were 194k players as wiki says it’s a lot lower…
It includes tag and social players so somewhat overtakes it given tag is mixed anyway
Can’t argue with science
Trans sport issues are those of competitive integrity. Fuck “protecting” women against the physicality of a tackle or whatever, they’re rugby players, physicality is what they signed up for.
The simple fact is that due to testosterone influencing the way the body develops, men are just bigger, faster and stronger than women on average. I’m not trying to put anyone down, that’s just a fact. So a trans woman winger has more of a shot at outrunning the competition. That’s unfair and shouldn’t be allowed when most women’s leagues exist simply because they can’t physically compete in an open league.
A lot of people on the Twitter thread pointing out this is only affecting two players.
Isn’t that a good thing?
Much better this being addressed now when only two people have to face the disappointment, as opposed to a few years down the line when numbers have increased along with potential injuries.
I played women’s rugby as a older teen- this is shit for those personally involved, but sometimes the right decision is just….shit.
No offense to transgender women or women in general.
In a sports sense I think these things have to be nipped in the bud.
Imagine any one of Mike Tyson’s victims in the ring decided or felt that they were now a woman and should be allowed to compete in female boxing.
At the time.
Imagine Tyson Fury telling everyone tomorrow that he’s a woman and he wants to fight other women!
Look at Olympic sprint times.
Any length.
100 200 etc.
How many times would the 10th fastest man be faster than the fastest woman?
It’s potentially an unfair sport if certain people are allowed to change sex and still compete.
Doping issues galore across many if not all sports have shown the lengths, very good professionals will go to achieve success.
While I’m sure transgendering in itself is a huge, complicated and mentally challenging time for most of the participants.
I’m also sure that the lure of potential money, notoriety and getting that gold medal would be enough to persuade a small minority.
How do you govern that in sport which is often not fair anyway but should be at least trying to be?
A rugby ban saves them from long term brain injury arising from concussion, I suppose.
There is a caveat to say it’s only contact rugby. Anyone can still participate in tag / non-contact etc.
Pretty sensible ruling.
[removed]
It’s a horrible situation.
I can appreciate the trans movement being incensed and outraged but you can’t just turn your eye away from the evidence.
It’s a situation where equality is simply unattainable.
To be fair, this ruling in the name of “player safety” is one of many that irfu have been doing for years. The game is being changed yearly to make it safer and this one is yet another modification.
Edit: spelling
Good decision from the irfu
Common sense prevails
There’s a reason players in their mid 20s aren’t allowed play for the U14s.
Men compete together, women compete together, trans men compete together, trans women compete together. Biological men have a major advantage over trans men, biological women have a major disadvantage to trans women. It’s only fair they don’t compete with each other. If you disagree, you’re a moron.
Good.
If you’ve ever played rugby you’ll know this was definitely the right choice.
At the very least until extremely well defined and strict limitations are put in place.
Internet is a shitshow today with “experts” who know nothing about rugby fighting with “experts” who know nothing about gender.
Honestly having transgender people in sports is always going to be a shitshow when it comes to biological males who have transitioned to women playing against biological females.
This obviously doesn’t apply to all sports from how I see it, itapplies to the vast majority..
At the end of the day at the highest levels of athleticism biologically male bodies are better equipped and so will always have an advantage.
Before anything is said of course their is outliers to this, but there is too many variables and too many risks in contact sports for safety to be guaranteed.
I also do think it’s unfair to the women who train to be the best in their sport and get overtaken or injured because a female with a males biological makeup was allowed to participate.
Transgender being it’s own bracket could be a fix but even then theres still variables because of non binary etc.
Socially engineered genders are always messy when met with real world implications it’s hard to keep everyone happy and safe, you’re always gonna have the dickheads and you’re always gonna have people who are so pushy about it they dont consider the dangers.
P.S This is just an opinion piece coming from someone who is very new to this whole gender thing so apologies if I come off as insensitive but I am very open to feedback in that regard.
Someone tell me how to feel about this.
Initial reaction from the title is … well of course…maybe they should have their own league?
Reminds me of the quote diversity for the sake of diversity creates adversity. Whilst a tough decision a sensible one for contact rugby.
That’s the way it should be , transgender athletes should not be allowed in any sport , it ruins the integrity and fairness of a sport … the fact is men are physically stronger in every way to women and to pretend otherwise is just wrong
29 comments
At least the IRFU are getting it right!
In the case of rugby, this makes sense. In contact sports someone could end up getting badly injured.
I think the unfortunate problem for transgender athletes is that allowing them into women’s sport would just be too open to abuse. There’s no way to come up with a cut off point that’s fair.
Maybe a completely separate league where women accept transgender are part of the make up and accept that risk.
Just saw the Twitter thread on it
It is, predictably, a shitshow
Could you imagine the size of the pack otherwise.
It’d be a massacre at scrum time.
I know this will receive a number of down votes but thought I would throw in my 2 cents.
As a traditional scrum half (small af) I have always played against much larger women. They have been taller/heavier than I but it didn’t stop me and it was the same as a tackle from anyone. If they are not getting low and tackle too high there will be a penalty/cards if needs be. This was an advantage for me as bigger players take longer to get low. Tackling bigger players wasn’t an issue either. Get low and they will fall. There have been times where I haven’t used proper technique and have bounced off them but that was my fault.
The thing about rugby is you learn what works best for you as a play. I know I am fast and use that. I have seen men not much bigger than me play against bigger men and they have the same attitude.
People only seem to care about womens sports and want to “protect” us but they have never once stood up for all the inequality we face as women playing spot.
I think its important to point out that the article says this will impact two registered players. According to Google, there were 194,000 registered players as at 2018.
It’s obviously shit for those two but it really gets blown out of proportion as an issue on all sides of the debate
Edit – I’m trying to find the link again to where it said there were 194k players as wiki says it’s a lot lower…
Edit 2 – found it. https://www.balls.ie/amp/rugby/rugby-irelands-most-popular-sport-384546
It includes tag and social players so somewhat overtakes it given tag is mixed anyway
Can’t argue with science
Trans sport issues are those of competitive integrity. Fuck “protecting” women against the physicality of a tackle or whatever, they’re rugby players, physicality is what they signed up for.
The simple fact is that due to testosterone influencing the way the body develops, men are just bigger, faster and stronger than women on average. I’m not trying to put anyone down, that’s just a fact. So a trans woman winger has more of a shot at outrunning the competition. That’s unfair and shouldn’t be allowed when most women’s leagues exist simply because they can’t physically compete in an open league.
A lot of people on the Twitter thread pointing out this is only affecting two players.
Isn’t that a good thing?
Much better this being addressed now when only two people have to face the disappointment, as opposed to a few years down the line when numbers have increased along with potential injuries.
I played women’s rugby as a older teen- this is shit for those personally involved, but sometimes the right decision is just….shit.
No offense to transgender women or women in general.
In a sports sense I think these things have to be nipped in the bud.
Imagine any one of Mike Tyson’s victims in the ring decided or felt that they were now a woman and should be allowed to compete in female boxing.
At the time.
Imagine Tyson Fury telling everyone tomorrow that he’s a woman and he wants to fight other women!
Look at Olympic sprint times.
Any length.
100 200 etc.
How many times would the 10th fastest man be faster than the fastest woman?
It’s potentially an unfair sport if certain people are allowed to change sex and still compete.
Doping issues galore across many if not all sports have shown the lengths, very good professionals will go to achieve success.
While I’m sure transgendering in itself is a huge, complicated and mentally challenging time for most of the participants.
I’m also sure that the lure of potential money, notoriety and getting that gold medal would be enough to persuade a small minority.
How do you govern that in sport which is often not fair anyway but should be at least trying to be?
A rugby ban saves them from long term brain injury arising from concussion, I suppose.
There is a caveat to say it’s only contact rugby. Anyone can still participate in tag / non-contact etc.
Pretty sensible ruling.
[removed]
It’s a horrible situation.
I can appreciate the trans movement being incensed and outraged but you can’t just turn your eye away from the evidence.
It’s a situation where equality is simply unattainable.
To be fair, this ruling in the name of “player safety” is one of many that irfu have been doing for years. The game is being changed yearly to make it safer and this one is yet another modification.
Edit: spelling
Good decision from the irfu
Common sense prevails
There’s a reason players in their mid 20s aren’t allowed play for the U14s.
Men compete together, women compete together, trans men compete together, trans women compete together. Biological men have a major advantage over trans men, biological women have a major disadvantage to trans women. It’s only fair they don’t compete with each other. If you disagree, you’re a moron.
Good.
If you’ve ever played rugby you’ll know this was definitely the right choice.
At the very least until extremely well defined and strict limitations are put in place.
Internet is a shitshow today with “experts” who know nothing about rugby fighting with “experts” who know nothing about gender.
Honestly having transgender people in sports is always going to be a shitshow when it comes to biological males who have transitioned to women playing against biological females.
This obviously doesn’t apply to all sports from how I see it, itapplies to the vast majority..
At the end of the day at the highest levels of athleticism biologically male bodies are better equipped and so will always have an advantage.
Before anything is said of course their is outliers to this, but there is too many variables and too many risks in contact sports for safety to be guaranteed.
I also do think it’s unfair to the women who train to be the best in their sport and get overtaken or injured because a female with a males biological makeup was allowed to participate.
Transgender being it’s own bracket could be a fix but even then theres still variables because of non binary etc.
Socially engineered genders are always messy when met with real world implications it’s hard to keep everyone happy and safe, you’re always gonna have the dickheads and you’re always gonna have people who are so pushy about it they dont consider the dangers.
P.S This is just an opinion piece coming from someone who is very new to this whole gender thing so apologies if I come off as insensitive but I am very open to feedback in that regard.
Someone tell me how to feel about this.
Initial reaction from the title is … well of course…maybe they should have their own league?
Reminds me of the quote diversity for the sake of diversity creates adversity. Whilst a tough decision a sensible one for contact rugby.
That’s the way it should be , transgender athletes should not be allowed in any sport , it ruins the integrity and fairness of a sport … the fact is men are physically stronger in every way to women and to pretend otherwise is just wrong
Makes sense.