The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has approved recommendations that will protect women by banning men who live as women from playing contact women’s rugby. After an extensive two-year process, the national governing body for rugby in England has voted in favour of updating its gender participation policy. The latest policy follows the 2020 guidelines issued by World Rugby and replaces the case-by-case approach previously adopted by the RFU. Responding to critics, RFU president Jeff Blackett said that the policy is “based on all the scientific evidence available”. International sporting bodies for cycling, swimming and rugby league have recently strengthened rules to protect women’s sports.

Source: The Times August 03, 2022 08:55 UTC