Times article, injury fears over rugbys transwomen drives referees off pitch

[happydappy2]

Apologies can’t link, but a good article. Surely this can’t go on much longer

Agree. Hopefully people will get over all this silly transphobia and move.

Move on and we can become more tolerant, inclusive and understanding.

Link:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/injury-fears-over-rugbys-trans-women-drive-referees-off-pitch-877hjsfz0

No share token though - sorry.

I'm sure I read somewhere that referees are responsible for the player safety during a game, so I'm not at all surprised they don't want to be involved in refereeing adult mixed sex rugby.

Here: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/injury-fears-over-rugbys-trans-women-drive-referees-off-pitch-877hjsfz0?shareToken=afa4f7a1cfa5c0d1e111148b65130a8f

So, so dangerous for female players. My boys both play junior rugby at district level and the eldest is no longer allowed to play against the girls as the differences in physical size and force are already becoming apparent at age 11.

regina how funny you are, I just spat out my wine with laughter at the bizarreness of yr post

Thanks for the share token cunning

I'm sure I read somewhere that referees are responsible for the player safety during a game

"Under the laws of the game, a referee is “the sole judge of fact and of law during the match” and is required to remove a player who presents a danger to themselves or others."

Looks like I was right. Given that, I'd be more surprised if anyone agreed to referee a mixed sex match.

reginafelangee - tolerant and understanding about injuries to women and the obliteration of women's sport?
Nope.

Inclusive? Silly transphobia? Women face being seriously injured because excluding people on the basis of biological differences might induce hurty feelings. 🙄

“Being forced to prioritise hurt feelings over broken bones exposes me to personal litigation from female players who have been damaged by players who are biologically male. This is driving female players and referees out of the game.”

Verity Smith (the bearded person photographed with Rotherham Ladies Club) was born female and is transitioning to live as a transman.

www.rotherhamadvertiser.co.uk/sport/view,worth-fighting-for-the-sporting-story-of-transmale-rugby-player-verity-smit_29725.htm

Well that’s confusing. Why doesn’t Verify play with the men then? Is it hormone level related?

Sorry, Verity.

Women will stop playing sport if they are forced to play in mixed sex teams.
I spoke to a young female cyclist today whose finding she and other girls in her age group are having to ride alongside the Vet60 men. She says they hate it and the men are really aggressive on the course. She said it’s put many of the girls off.
This is a clear example of how men make the rules in sport without any consideration to the women attempting to carve out their place in the sport.

I feel for Verity, but I wonder how they feel about transwomen tackling their female team mates?

Surely Verity shouldn't be playing rugby at all? A female supplementing with testosterone and playing female sports is essentially a drugs cheat, and presumably it would be dangerous for them to play with males due to their female physique?

I realise this is exclusionary but I don't see how they can safely and fairly play with either men or women?

Verity is a female player on testosterone and Verity is still allowed to play? That's a pretty good indication of how the rules don't seem to matter anymore.

If Verity plays with the women because it’s considered too dangerous for her to play with the men and not for another reason I’m missing then why isn’t the safety of the women having to play against transwomen being considered in the same way? This isn’t making any sense unless I’m misunderstanding something wrt the changes mentioned in the article.

I fully believe people should live their lives how they want to. Feel as feminine as you like, wear a dress if it makes you happy but as an adult bodied man you shouldn’t be tackling five foot women on a rugby pitch or entering a boxing ring with them or beating them to Olympic medals really should you? Why would you want to? It’s not even a challenge really is it?

Surely Verity shouldn't be playing rugby at all?
To me, it seems like the best outcome would be if there were rugby clubs for transmen and for transwomen. Where that isn't feasible because there aren't enough players, is there a thing called tag rugby that's usually played mixed-sex? Someone mentioned it to me recently, so I might have it wrong, but I think there's no contact.

Verity takes testosterone, which would be a doping offence for any other woman.

But since Verity identifies as a man, Verity is allowed to take testosterone. While playing in the women's game.

Verity works for MESMAC by the way. The charity for men who have sex with men.

So in terms of muscle strength and power in the women's game, here's the ranking:

1. Males who identify as women (are supposed to reduce testosterone but nobody checks).
2. Women who identify as men (and take testosterone).
3. Women. Are not allowed to take testosterone. Bottom of the pile. The ones least likely to progress in the women's game.

Move on and we can become more tolerant, inclusive and understanding

There is a picture in the article of a bearded person presenting as Male as far as I would have assumed had they not said they were identifying as female.

If including this biologically male person in women’s sport is inclusive and kind and tolerant to males it is the opposite to females.

Isn't it just weird how males who identify as women simply cannot compete with other men because it would be so upsetting and would completely invalidate their existence? And the mere thought is transphobic?

But women who identify as men can compete with women just fine?

For some reason.

Another sports team photo that valorises the trans player. Like that Dutch cycling team.

Lumene that’s Verity in the photo. Verity is a transman so biologically female but passes very well as a man. But she plays on a women’s team, we assume because it is too dangerous for her to play with the men. I agree that it would be. Yet transwomen (so biological men presenting as female) are also being permitted to play against the women. Which is quite obviously dangerous for the female players and referees have spoken out about it as in the article. No transpeople seem to be involved in the male side of the sport at all.

Mermoose
To me, it seems like the best outcome would be if there were rugby clubs for transmen and for transwomen
I've got a much better idea, why don't we have rugby teams for men to play and rugby teams for women.
Mind you that's probably too sensible and not inclusive enough for some. it's probably transphobic to even suggest that in a contact sport like rugby, teams should be divided by Sex.
Rugby can be a violent sport, Owen Farrell was subjected to a high tackle and lost part of his nose (according to the England coach) recently.

I've got a much better idea, why don't we have rugby teams for men to play and rugby teams for women.
I think teams should be divided by sex, but I don't think that someone who is female and taking testosterone should play with women who aren't. Do you?