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JK Rowling and Suzanne Moore going off on one about rugby reminds me of the dozens of times as a women's rugby coach I got absolutely flattened by the players I was coaching.
I'm 6'1" and 110kg. I'm the scary monster they're trying to scaremonger about. I still got flattened.
I'm 6'1" and 110kg. I'm the scary monster they're trying to scaremonger about. I still got flattened.
Part of my job was safeguarding players. Most of the time I was the only qualified first-aider pitchside and I spent a fair amount of every game running on to check on injuries.
90% of injuries were bad technique or bad luck, not the result of being hit by someone bigger.
90% of injuries were bad technique or bad luck, not the result of being hit by someone bigger.
What's my status now? Permanently retired from the game due to head injuries. Bad luck, in the end, I'm a one in 100,000 case of head knocks leading to permanent medication.
Was it due to bigger players? No. There weren't many bigger players than me at my level.
Was it due to bigger players? No. There weren't many bigger players than me at my level.
The best way you safeguard any player on a rugby pitch is by coaching them correct technique early and thoroughly. Bad technique leads to bad injuries, almost without fail. This is far too common in the women's game due to substandard coaching.
Not by excluding trans women.
Not by excluding trans women.
Will these transphobes come running out to demand proper funding and status for the women's game so that they get proper high-level coaching from the beginner's game right up to the elite?
Don't be ridiculous. They don't actually give a damn whether the players get injured.
Don't be ridiculous. They don't actually give a damn whether the players get injured.
Another linked thread https://twitter.com/tristangrayedi/status/1299373903849160711?s=19
Final (?) linked thread.
If you want to support women's rugby - support then getting the respect that they deserve alongside the men's game.
Join their fight against being whitewashed from advertising their own kit because they don't fit the mould. https://twitter.com/tristangrayedi/status/1299494511165538305?s=19
If you want to support women's rugby - support then getting the respect that they deserve alongside the men's game.
Join their fight against being whitewashed from advertising their own kit because they don't fit the mould. https://twitter.com/tristangrayedi/status/1299494511165538305?s=19
TL;DR - The current rugby regs for inclusion of trans athletes are set by the Olympic committee and they're good ones that protect everyone involved inclusively.
Attempts to change them by hate groups have literally no interest in the safety and challenges faced by athletes.
Attempts to change them by hate groups have literally no interest in the safety and challenges faced by athletes.
Some caveats because a few people have taken away different messages here:
- There are cases where weight restrictions are important. eg. school sport where massive weight differences do significantly increase the chances of injury. I couldn't play rugby for years due to this.
- There are cases where weight restrictions are important. eg. school sport where massive weight differences do significantly increase the chances of injury. I couldn't play rugby for years due to this.
- Women's sport is segregated away from men's sport for good reason, especially at the highest competitive levels. I'm a firm advocate for this continuing.
This can be done whilst remaining inclusive of trans athletes, both trans men and trans women, the science is complicated.
This can be done whilst remaining inclusive of trans athletes, both trans men and trans women, the science is complicated.
Too complicated to fit into the VERY narrow mindset of transphobic groups who have yet to graduate from XX/XY and fixations on genetalia.
To be clear: The Olympic regulations *already* take this into account and the regs are strict. Rugby has had these inclusive regs for years.
To be clear: The Olympic regulations *already* take this into account and the regs are strict. Rugby has had these inclusive regs for years.
Why hasn't elite-level rugby been filled with trans women dominating the game and international rugby federations scrambling to attract more of them to the game to win under these regs?
Because the "concerns" raised by transphobic orgs are an invention to justify their bigotry.
Because the "concerns" raised by transphobic orgs are an invention to justify their bigotry.
