IRFU Transgender Women Policy Change

Yes true.

Well as long as no major surgery's have yet taken place they can always transition back but if surgery's have taken place eg: in the case of Female to male the removal of the Womb/Uterus and overies well then it would be much harder to detransition and on the case of a male to female bottom surgery. These should only really happen once they are adults, they have seen psychologists and consent to it.

Hormones too will make big bodily changes in the case of the male to female that would be breasts, Softer skin, less thick hair growth on the body, less muscle more fat, hips and less dense bones and shrinkage of the testicles and penis that is not so easily reversed and in the case of a female to male it would be denser bones, more muscle less fat, hair growth on the face and body much more than before and no breast development of female fat distribution as it would be less fat more muscle.

How is this policy enforceable? Will there be an IRFU genital inspector rocking up at junior rugby games? Will any women who don't look feminine enough be challenged? Its a nonsense decision aiming to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

Also the "transwoman can still participate asa ref" line in the IRFU statement is so tone deaf and patronising.

They aren't set up as a fully fledged contact team yet, this camp being non contact has nothing to do with the potential attendance of trans people at it.

“What if I as a man rocked down to a woman’s session” is an argument that perpetuates the idea that trans women are just “blokes in dresses”. Surely if you have opinions on trans people you would know that transitioning takes years and isn’t something that is entered into lightly.

“Registered female at birth” or however it is worded would exclude trans women who did not go through a male puberty.

World Rugby guideline defines it as someone who was male at birth and went through a testosterone driven puberty

Took me less than a minute to find that out.

And this is the crux of it. A case by case basis would almost certainly result in the IRFU being brought before the courts for discrimination. As it is a case is about to be filed relating to head injuries where every minute detail of the Union's health and safety protocols will come under intense scrutiny. In the current climate the IRFU's decision is completely understandable.

Furthermore, the Union are clearly segregating the women's game based on participant's sex rather than their gender. This is important as it recognises the inherent advantages enjoyed by female trans athletes over their competitors whilst also being respectful of their gender identity.

What's the consensus amongst female players regarding trans women playing in their divisions? I'm only seeing men commenting on what's fair/safe for them, while any female reaction i see on social media is opposing the IRFU ruling.

'Celebrating' would be a strong word.

Its good for everyone that there is clarity. Its good that it happened before it was forced to happen, due to some incident or legal action. Its good that the Union are out in front of this issue.

Its a positive for game development and integrity. Thats all.