Had to do a double take on 'Verity'.

[TeachesOfPeaches]

From the Sunday Times. Referees told not to challenge bearded members of women's rugby.

Verity is a transman, taking testosterone after developing PCOS, going through an extremely early menopause and having a hysterectomy in 'his' twenties.

If 'he' were still legally female and taking testosterone, she would be barred for doping.

Thank you, it isn't explained in the article

Her beard has grown more luxuriant since she has started transitioning. She is female to male - she wants to play with men Afaik. She is a good player who has fought back from injury.

Which would soon see her on the sidelines injured I suspect.

Or him - am confused by the Verity name!

I can’t read the article but think the bigger issue is make to female transitions - there are teams who have members this applies to.

Anyone taking drugs (for any reason) which gives them an unfair advantage has no place in sport.

the Times out this article out yesterday them released another version

Verity shouldn't play with men because verity isn't a man. Neither should she play with women because she's taking performance enhancing drugs.

Unfortunately some life choices we make prevent us from doing other things.

If verity wants to carry on playing rugby with women, then she needs to drop the T completely

I’m afraid I agree with orchid.

There's another thread on this. It seems that Verity now plays wheelchair rugby, which is mixed sex and has teams which are a mix of disabled and able bodied players.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3703839-Times-article-injury-fears-over-rugbys-transwomen-drives-referees-off-pitch

Why does Verity have a female name? Is it post-ironic?

Verity is the name of the charity for people with PCOS.

Orchid Not sure that Verity taking T precludes Verity from the male category. I think the men's team is open to all entrants. That seems to be the rule in sports I've played, but not sure about rugby.

They might find they won't last long before being injured in the men's team though.

The name Verity means:
a true principle or belief, especially one of fundamental importance.
"the eternal verities"
truth.
"irrefutable, objective verity"
...........
I love the name and sort of understand why she adopted it but the story outlined above is still all too weird for me.

Women must put up, shove up and shut up. How can it be fair in any direction for women to have to cope with players whose bodies were built on testosterone from childhood AND players who are benefiting from the advantages of performance enhancing artificial testosterone? How is this fair, sporting and safe?

StereoChem - I didn't say Verity shouldn't play against men because she's taking T, I don't think Verity should play with men because Verity is a woman.

If the men's team is open to all entrants, then it's not a men's team is it? It's a mixed team. But given that sport at school becomes single sex once children start secondary, it seems a bit dangerous to have mixed rugby teams.

Why did they focus on Verity and not the transwoman in the team?

I'm going to take steroids and demand that people include me in their team otherwise they are bigots.