Transgender rugby player raises thousands in bid to overthrow safety laws banning players born male

A transgender woman rugby player has raised thousands in a bid to overthrow safety laws banning players who were born men from the female-only sport.

The policy was put in place after research by World Rugby found trans women increase risk factors for biological women by as much as 30 per cent due to power and strength differences.

Transgender rugby player Julie-Anne Curtis – who sent a legal challenge to the Rugby Football Union over the decision in August last year – is now raising money to fight it.

Writing as part of her crowdfunder, she said: ‘Having begun my transition in 2016, I have been accepted as female by friends, colleagues, loved ones and most relevantly, by my female rugby team mates when I started playing again in 2021 as my full self.

‘This decision essentially bans one population of people from playing a game. The Equality Act starts at inclusion, not exclusion.

The Seaford Ladies player said the community within the rugby team let her play for the first time as herself 

Brighton-based Ms Curtis has raised £6,585 of her £20,000 goal with just seven days to go

‘Trans women come in all shapes, sizes and ability levels, just like cisgender women. The new RFU policy has no nuance and instead has decided all trans women to be excluded. It is difficult to see how this broad-brush approach can be “necessary”.’

Brighton-based Ms Curtis has raised £6,585 of her £20,000 goal with just seven days to go.

She has received the backing of Stonewall CEO Nancy Kelley, who called for followers to support her ‘fight for an inclusive rugby game’ in a Tweet.

The Seaford Ladies player said the community within the rugby team let her play for the first time as herself.

But World Rugby warn that the forces and inertia faced by smaller and slower players during frequent collisions are much greater when they are playing a much larger, faster player.

They say this can be a ‘significant determinant’ in head injury factors.

In their research transgender women were found to be up to 60 per cent stronger, 15 per cent faster and have a 40 per cent power advantage.

This would not be changed by testosterone suppression – which would only reduce muscle mass and strength by between five and 10 per cent.

World Rugby warn that the forces and inertia faced by smaller and slower players during frequent collisions are much greater when they are playing a much larger, faster player

She has recieved the backing of Stonewall CEO Nancy Kelley, who called for followers to support her ‘fight for an inclusive rugby game’ in a Tweet

Swimmer Sharron Davies MBE blasted the campaign as ‘dangerous and negligent’ – saying that the RFU must hold firm.

The Olympian – an outspoken supporter of women’s rights – competed in three games for Great Britain, winning a silver medal in 1980.

She said: ‘I am 100 per cent behind the RFU and World Rugby by putting female rugby players safety first and fair sport second as it should be.

‘All the peer reviewed science we have say we cannot mitigate against male puberty advantage it is both ignorant but worse dangerous and negligent to put the feelings of a male in from of all the health risks to female rugby players.’

New research by the Staffordshire University found brain injury often goes underreported by women rugby players – partly due to the strong social identity shared by the team.

Women suffer a higher rate of concussions than men, often with more severe and prolonged symptoms.

And experts have warned that they could be more likely to develop sports-related dementia than their male counterparts. 

Kim Jones, a spokesperson for the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, said: ‘Women and girls participating in competitive sport deserve access to fair and safe competition without caveat. 

Swimmer Sharron Davies MBE (pictured) blasted the campaign as ‘dangerous and negligent’ – saying that the RFU must hold firm

Coaches from the Brighton team have claimed Curtis is not the biggest threat on their team

‘Including male athletes in the women’s category removes both safety and fairness for women and results in the exclusion of female athletes. 

‘There can be no compromise on the eligibility of an athlete born male to demand access to women’s competitions. 

‘This is absolutely clear on the issue of safety alone in any contact sport such as rugby. 

‘It is not reasonable to increase a known safety risk to female athletes simply because they were born female.’

Coaches from the Brighton team have claimed Curtis is not the biggest threat on their team in an interview with ESPN.

She was one of seven transgender women who were registered with the rugby body, and one of three who were actively playing.

A spokesperson for the RFU said: ‘The RFU recognises that the change to the Gender Participation policy was a complex and difficult decision, and that the policy change was not taken lightly or without thorough and full research and consultation.

‘We understand the hurt caused to the LGTBQ+ community, and trans-women in particular, and remain committed to reviewing this policy as the evidence evolves.

She was one of seven transgender women who were registered with the rugby body, and one of three who were actively playing 

‘The RFU held and extensive consultation which began with a detailed review of its policy in autumn 2020, this included a game wide survey receiving over 11,000 responses, extensive consultation with and listening to a wide range of independent experts as well as considering all available medical evidence along with guidance from other sporting bodies.

‘The review and consultation concluded that detailed peer reviewed research provides evidence that there are physical differences between those people whose sex was male and those female at birth, and advantages in strength, stamina and physique brought about by male puberty are significant and retained even after testosterone suppression.

‘This science provides the basis of the new gender participation policy that concludes the inclusion of trans people who were male at birth in female contact rugby cannot be balanced against considerations of safety and fairness.

‘The RFU also considered the merits of a case-by-case assessment process, but in light of the research findings and work of World Rugby and the UK Sports Councils, and given the difficulties in identifying a credible test to assess physiological variables, this is no longer a viable option at this time and does not necessarily ensure inclusion.’

Julie-Anne Curtis’ lawyers Russell-Cooke Solicitors have been contacted for comment.