Dutch rugby body sets up group to assess trans women policy

The Dutch rugby association has set up a “group of experts” to assess whether its current policy of allowing transgender women to play in women’s teams “needs to be adapted”, following the high-profile injury of at least one woman player.

The group, which includes game experts, a referee, representatives from the Dutch sports body NOC*NSF and legal advisers, will draw up recommendations to be presented to the association’s board later this year.

Earlier this month, Britain’s Sunday Times reported on the case of Dutch player Elena King, who sustained a serious knee injury after being tackled by a trans woman during a premier league rugby match in the Netherlands.

King, who has played rugby since she was a little girl, says on her website that everyone has the right to enjoy the game of rugby and other sports. “However, trans women are stuck, and remain, in a male’s body which causes dangerous and unfair situations in sports,” she said.

Her concerns, the paper said, are shared by other women, coaching staff and at least two clubs. Dutch News is also aware of concerns among club officials.

The Netherlands, unlike many other countries, has not adopted a formal policy on trans women (born male), though world rugby’s governing body has banned them from international women’s contact rugby.

“This decision is based on the size, force and power-producing advantages associated with testosterone during puberty and adolescence, and the risks this creates for player safety,” World Rugby says on its website.

In 2022 and 2023, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland extended the ban to domestic rugby competitions.