In Her words: Camille and the Community Who Refused to Let Her Stand Alone

After months of scrutiny and a rollercoaster of policy changes, Camille Wilt is still standing and still fighting for her place in the sport she loves. A lifelong rugby player, Camille has seen both the best and worst of what the rugby community can offer. Through it all, her commitment to the game, her teammates, and her own identity has never wavered.

A Life Built Around Rugby

Camille first picked up a rugby ball at seven years old in Washington State. Her mother, Robin Wilt was a founding board member of Dartmouth Women’s Rugby and made sure Camille grew up surrounded by the spirit and camaraderie of the sport.

“I was captivated by the fun of it,” Camille recalls of her early years with the East Side Lions. “Rugby is so easy to get lost in because it’s such a structured yet continuous sport. You can’t ever ‘solve’ it.”

From youth leagues to college play, rugby became a foundational part of Camille’s life. “It’s always been family,” she explains. “Even when I was younger, being part of a team gave me connection, friendship, and a sense of purpose.”

Robin hoped her children would find in rugby the same confidence and camaraderie she had discovered decades earlier. “The leaders on my college team were avowed feminists. Rugby has always been about women’s empowerment,” she said. “I was proud to pass that on.”

The Power of the Pitch

As Camille grew older, rugby remained a constant, even as other aspects of her life changed. During college, she began her gender transition. Rugby didn’t fade into the background. Instead, it became a place where she could fully belong.

“Showing up to rugby went extremely far in affirming myself and finding comfort in women’s spaces,” Camille says. “No one questioned my medical or social transition. They just welcomed me.”

Robin watched her daughter step confidently into the sport she had once introduced her to. “I was proud of her self-advocacy. Once she overcame the administrative hurdles, we saw the same kind of inclusion and solidarity I remember from playing in the 90s.”

Recognition and Backlash

In January 2025, Camille was named to the All-Stars All-Tournament Team at the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Women’s All-Star 7s Tournament. It was a moment of well-earned recognition, but one that was quickly overshadowed by right-wing media backlash.

“They speculated about my body, harassed my family, and tried to erase everything I worked for,” Camille says.

Robin, now a public figure in their hometown, was targeted as well. “I had to remove mentions of my children from our town’s website. We worked with the university and even local police to make sure Camille would be protected,” she recalls.

In those early days of the attack, NCR was among the first to act. They reached out to Camille, checked in on her wellbeing, and worked behind the scenes to take down harmful content. NCR representatives encouraged the broader rugby community to report abusive posts and temporarily disabled comment sections to shield Camille from further harm.

“It meant a lot,” Camille says. “Their support in that moment helped me feel protected when things felt really overwhelming.”

Camille’s teammates also stood by her. “It was my teammates who reached out, who shielded me,” she says. “Their support meant everything.”

Policy Changes and New Hurdles

Just weeks later, National Collegiate Rugby abruptly changed its long held eligibility policy, temporarily suspending waivers that had previously allowed Camille to compete. With little warning, she was pulled from play. After a wave of community pressure and reporting from YSCRugby, NCR reversed course but not without adding new restrictions.

Now, athletes must meet USA Rugby’s 2015 IOC-based policy, which requires testosterone testing that wasn’t previously mandated. Camille had already been granted eligibility under the earlier NCR process, providing documentation from her doctor confirming she was receiving gender-affirming care. That documentation was initially accepted, but under the new policy, she’s being asked to submit medical testing that many trans athletes don’t routinely undergo.

“It’s demeaning,” Camille says. “They’re undermining my medical care, my identity, and my right to play.”

Robin was stunned. “It made me feel powerless. The invasions of privacy and lack of medical understanding from decision-makers was frightening. It felt like exclusion disguised as regulation.”

Even after securing another temporary waiver, Camille continues to face obstacles just to participate in the sport she’s played since childhood. “I resent that NCR has compromised my senior year,” she says. “The fight to play has overshadowed everything.”

What Inclusion Really Means

Camille and Robin both believe the fight is bigger than one player. “We need governing bodies to consider the updated 2021 guidelines from the IOC,” Camille says. “They need to prioritize human dignity and discourage medically unnecessary barriers.”

Robin adds, “The women’s rugby community has the power to lead with compassion and equity, if we choose to. Determining who is feminine enough to compete in women’s athletics should not be left to those far removed from our lived realities.”

Looking Forward

Camille still shows up for her team. She trains, supports, and strategizes, even when she’s sidelined. “My teammates, my partner, and the sport itself keep me hopeful.”

Robin echoes that hope. “We both find strength in this community. And we believe that as more women are represented in leadership, rugby’s future can be truly inclusive.”

Camille Wilt isn’t just fighting for her spot on the field. She’s standing for the values rugby claims to hold. And she’s not alone.