Scottish Rugby bans transgender ladies from competing involved rugby

The Scottish Rugby Union board banned transgender ladies from competing involved rugby within the feminine class of the game on Tuesday.

The English, Irish and Welsh rugby unions had already opted to permit solely individuals born as ladies to characteristic within the feminine model of the sport.

Scotland’s rugby chiefs had are available for criticism for failing to observe the identical coverage as their British neighbours.

The ban comes into impact on February 1 and follows steerage from World Rugby and the UK-wide Sports Councils’ Equality Group.

Transgender ladies might beforehand take part within the ladies’s recreation in Scotland relying on the result of a “thorough medical process including testosterone tests” previous to registration to play.

The coverage will likely be reviewed annually and if any new scientific information and analysis turns into obtainable.

Transgender males could proceed to play contact rugby within the males’s class supplied a danger evaluation has been undertaken by their membership and the result logged with the SRU.

“We all have a responsibility to look after the participants in our game, with their wellbeing and safety at the centre of everything we do,” a press release from the SRU board mentioned.

“We fully acknowledge this is a difficult and sadly divisive societal issue, and that has been especially apparent over the last few months. Scottish Rugby has been mindful of this and aimed to deal with the issue in a sensitive manner.

“Inclusion is a bedrock of our sport. Scottish Rugby wishes to be as inclusive as possible and is only imposing such eligibility restrictions based on the guidance provided.

“Our Gender Participation Policy recognises the need to balance considerations of safety and fairness with our underlying desire to be as inclusive as possible. At this moment in time, Scottish Rugby has opted to make a decision which puts safety first, based on the current research.”