Fact-Checking World Rugby’s Ban on Trans Women: Science, Silence, and Exclusion

TL;DR

World Rugby’s ban on trans women in elite competition is built on a selective review of more than 40 studies, many of which had little relevance to rugby or trans athletes. No original research was commissioned. No input from the trans community was sought. Although World Rugby pledged a three-year policy review and further research, no public findings have emerged. Meanwhile, inclusive events like the IGR Union Cup in Oslo and the NORAM Cup in Boston show that trans inclusion in rugby works safely, joyfully, and with widespread support.

Introduction: The Ban Without a Basis

In 2020, World Rugby became the first major international sports governing body to ban transgender women from elite-level women’s+ rugby. The decision was framed as a matter of fairness and safety, supposedly backed by scientific review. But a closer look reveals a troubling lack of rigor, accountability, and transparency.

World Rugby did not commission any new research. Instead, it reviewed a limited and highly selective pool of roughly 40 studies. Many of these studies focused on general fitness or outdated hormone data rather than sport-specific performance, rugby context, or trans women themselves. Input from trans athletes was entirely absent from the process.

Although World Rugby committed to conducting further research and promised a full policy review every three years, no such review has been made public as of 2025. No new studies have been shared. No transparent explanation has been given.

If World Rugby truly intended a science-driven approach, where is the follow-through? The absence of transparency and accountability suggests that the ban may have been politically motivated from the beginning.

The Flawed Science and Missing Data

World Rugby’s ban on trans women in elite competition relies heavily on generalized studies that often have little to do with rugby or trans athletes. Many of the more than 40 studies reviewed by World Rugby focused on cis male to female performance differences or lab-based physiological measures such as grip strength, lean mass, or VO₂ max. These studies often ignore the effects of transition-related hormone therapy and incorrectly assume that trans women’s bodies operate like those of cis men. This false equivalence suggests that trans women pose the same risks or advantages as untrained cis men in contact sports. Most of the research cited also fails to consider sport-specific skills, training, or the realities of actual rugby gameplay, which are crucial to evaluating fairness and safety.

In contrast, scientists like Dr. Eric Vilain, who advises international sports bodies, argue that current evidence does not support broad exclusion. Speaking to NPR in 2023, Vilain explained:

“We know very little about advantages of trans girls and women athletes over their cisgender peers… What we know is that boys and men have an advantage in performance over girls and women, and that disadvantage increases after puberty… But to assume that translates directly to trans athletes is just not supported by evidence.”¹

This perspective aligns with peer-reviewed research from scholars like Joanna Harper, who emphasize the need for sport-specific, individualized assessments. A 2020 thesis from St. Francis Xavier University similarly concluded that existing policies often lack scientific rigor and nuance.

Global Ripple Effects: Other Nations Follow Suit

The consequences of World Rugby’s policy reach far beyond elite competition. Several national unions have since implemented similar bans or restrictions. The rugby unions of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland now exclude trans women from competing in the women’s category. These national bans often rely on the same flawed assumptions and cite the same limited pool of studies, without conducting independent research or engaging meaningfully with the trans community.

While comprehensive data on elite transgender rugby players is limited, broader athletic research shows these athletes are extremely rare. Trans people represent about 1 to 2 percent of the U.S. population, but they make up fewer than 0.002 percent of NCAA athletes. That is fewer than 10 out of more than 510,000 competitors. Despite representing a statistically negligible group with no evidence of competitive dominance, nations are implementing sweeping bans.

Real-World Rugby: Trans Women Competing Safely and Proudly

Despite the rhetoric, inclusive rugby matches have already taken place safely, publicly, and joyfully.

On June 1, 2025, Oslo hosted the Ruck You Match as part of the IGR Union Cup. This exhibition featured a team of trans women facing off against former international women’s+ players. The only time the trans team scored was when the teams were mixed, underscoring that trans athletes do not possess inherent strength or elite ability beyond their peers. The match was backed by rugby greats like Sasha Acheson, Heather Fisher, and Alycia Washington, and it received strong public support.

That same weekend, Boston held the third annual All Trans Match during the NORAM Cup, North America’s largest inclusive rugby tournament. The NORAM Women’s+ Cup followed, with teams like the Baltimore Flamingos-Ferals, Village Lions, San Jose Seahawks, and North Shore competing. These matches unfolded without incident, underscoring what the science and experience already show: trans women can participate in rugby without causing harm.

A Better Standard: The IOC’s 2021 Framework

In contrast to World Rugby’s exclusionary policy, the International Olympic Committee released a new framework in November 2021 titled IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non‑Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations. It discourages blanket bans and emphasizes the following principles:

• Inclusion should be the default
• No presumption of performance advantage based on gender identity
• Policies must be sport-specific and supported by direct evidence
• Athlete privacy and dignity must be protected

Rather than imposing rigid hormone thresholds, the IOC framework encourages international federations to develop fair, inclusive guidelines grounded in actual risk and data. It reflects a commitment to human rights, competitive integrity, and evidence-based governance.

Conclusion: Time to Rethink the Ban

World Rugby’s ban on trans women athletes is grounded in selective evidence, influenced by advocates with known biases, and maintained without transparency. Its promise of periodic review has not been fulfilled. The ban’s ripple effect has helped entrench exclusion across other countries without legitimate justification.

Meanwhile, inclusive tournaments from Boston to Oslo demonstrate that rugby can live its values of community and belonging. Trans women are not a threat to the sport. The real threat is the weaponization of fear and the misuse of science to justify exclusion.

It’s time for World Rugby and the unions following its lead to:

• Commission new rugby-specific research
• Publish the results of the promised review
• Center lived experiences from the trans and women’s+ rugby communities
• Adopt the IOC’s evidence-based, inclusive framework
• End the exclusion, and return to rugby’s core values

Citations

• IOC Framework (2021)
  Official title: IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non‑Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sex Variations
  URL: https://olympics.com/ioc/news/ioc-releases-framework-on-fairness-inclusion-and-non-discrimination
• Eric Vilain Quote
  NPR interview, August 2023 – “We know very little about advantages…”
  Source: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/13/1193744326/trans-athletes-sports-science
• Joanna Harper studies and commentary
  Harper, J., et al. have multiple publications on transgender athletes’ performance post-transition. If you’re referring to her work in general, include:
  Harper, J. (2015). Race Times for Transgender Athletes. Journal of Sporting Cultures and Identities, 6(1), 1-9.
  Source: https://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5035&context=lcp
• Megan Peterson, Gender Justice
  The Real Threat to Women’s Sports? It’s Not Trans Athletes. February 25, 2025.
  URL: https://www.genderjustice.us/commentary/trans-athletes-are-not-the-real-threat
• Duke Law Journal Article
  Jones, B. A., Arcelus, J., Bouman, W. P., & Haycraft, E. (2017). Sport and Transgender People: A Systematic Review of the Literature Relating to Sport Participation and Competitive Sport Policies. Law and Contemporary Problems, 80(4), 73–132.
  Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27699698/
• Teen Vogue (2022). Transgender Athletes and the Fight for Inclusion.
  URL: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/transgender-athletes-fight-for-inclusion
• NCAA Trans Athlete Data
  Baker, C. (2024, December 18). NCAA president says there are ‘less than 10’ transgender athletes in college sports. The Hill.
  URL: https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/5046662-ncaa-president-transgender-athletes-college-sports/