Trans women allowed in Dutch women’s rugby under new inclusivity policy

Trans women will be allowed to play at the highest level of women’s rugby in the Netherlands under certain conditions, the Dutch Rugby Association reported on its website on Wednesday.

Our goal is for no one to feel excluded in our sport. With this policy, we are combining inclusivity with the responsibility for safety and fairness. We are working on a rugby community in which everyone can be themselves, in and outside of the field,” said Friso Horstmeier, chairman of the Dutch Rugby Association.

According to the rugby federation, the new policy was created after a comprehensive and careful process that included input from club and player representatives, coaches, medical experts, legal advisers, and social organizations.

The rugby federation’s transgender policy is based on three principles: safety, fairness, and inclusion. Nothing will change in youth competitions, where girls and boys continue to play together on teams.

From now on, women’s rugby competitions will welcome trans women and other gender-diverse players aged 16 and above, following a risk assessment and, if needed, a medical review by a multidisciplinary inclusion panel. However, trans men or gender-diverse players using testosterone to affirm their gender identity will no longer be eligible to compete in women’s competitions.

Men’s competitions are now open to women, trans men, and gender-diverse players aged 18 and older. “Individual players and clubs can request advice and a safety assessment from the multidisciplinary inclusion panel,” the rugby association said.

“The transgender policy is not a static document. Rugby Netherlands periodically evaluates its practical application and adjusts it based on new insights, experiences, and social developments,” the association added.

International competitions will continue to follow World Rugby and Rugby Europe guidelines, which restrict trans women from competing in women’s teams under specific conditions.

In 2021, the International Olympic Committee called on international sports federations to develop their own guidelines regarding transgender participation in sports.