The French Rugby Federation (FFR) was to include in its regulations, Monday, May 17, the inclusion of trans people in all its competitions, has learned The world. The FFR becomes the first French sports federation to include transgender athletes, without distinction, in its regulations.
“For a long time, the FFR has allowed transgender people, who have a gender assignment, to play in the category of their marital status, exposes Serge Simon, the vice-president of the federation. But our new regulations will also include transit operators, people in transition. ” This decision, taken on the occasion of the World Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, goes against the recommendations issued in the fall of 2020 by World Rugby, the international rugby federation.
A woman identified as a man at birth will thus be able to participate in all competitions in the female categories. “From the moment she initiates her change of marital status and follows a twelve-month hormonal treatment”, specifies Jean-Bernard Marie Moles, who carried the project and chairs the anti-discrimination and equal treatment commission, created by the FFR.
First transgender rugby player in the first division – and the only one known to date – Alexia Cérénys is pleased to “The major breakthrough” what constitutes this evolution of the regulation. “It’s a way to deconstruct the prejudices that we can hear about transgender people in sport”, assure the World the 35-year-old player, who plays at the Lons club, on the outskirts of Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
Principle of single-sex
For several months, the Ovalie has crystallized around a complex debate: how to maintain the balance between inclusion, safety and equity for women and men who change gender? Because, in sport, the principle of non-mixing remains, to respect an equality assumed at the outset: women, on the one hand, men, on the other.
As such, World Rugby became, in October 2020, the first international body of sport in “Recommend” that trans women athletes do not compete in its international women’s competitions – such as the World Cup or the Olympics -, “Where size, strength, power and speed are all sensitive elements for both risk and performance”. A recommendation sounding like a ban, in the name of “Security and fairness”, which is based on a study observing that a player assigned to woman at birth has “At least 20% to 30% additional risk” of injury when tackled by a transgender woman who has had male puberty.
This difference in size which would endanger cisgender women, Alexia Cérénys is annoyed. “In my team, a player exceeds 120 kg. When we put it down, it can hurt, notes the player from the Landes. But that’s the essence of rugby, we have more or less big ones, more or less athletic ones. Gender is the last thing you look at. “
On social media, many players around the world posted their height and weight, along with the message: “I’m not a security risk, and neither are trans women”, after the English Rugby Federation (RFU) considered subjecting transgender women weighing over 90 kilograms or over five feet to a coach assessment before being allowed to play.
“No automatic refusal”
” If we enter the complex debate of sports fairness, we must begin by lifting the false barrier of natural fairness, where we would all start from the same starting line, with the same qualities., supports Serge Simon, also a doctor, who opposed the new instructions from World Rugby. Reducing performance in a single muscle power sport should not be an excuse to exclude a population. “
In order to guarantee the safety of all, according to the new regulations of the FFR, a commission will decide on a case-by-case basis if transgender players with extraordinary dimensions want to take their license, “But there will be no automatic refusal”, certifies Jean-Bernard Marie Moles.
About fifty transgender players came out in England when the RFU instituted a regulation similar to that adopted in France – Canada, the United States and Australia did the same. But it is difficult to assess the number of people involved in French rugby, because the subject remains taboo. Since being in the media, Alexia Cérénys explains that she has had feedback from transgender people. “Who wanted to resume rugby, but did not dare to take the plunge”. She herself has long feared her return to the game after her transition ten years ago. “Resuming in a team sport is not easy. “
“In our sport, we certainly pride ourselves a little too much on“ rugby values ”, a common phrase that is sometimes mocked, emphasizes Serge Simon. Values of fraternity and tolerance where all profiles and all backgrounds would be accepted. We must put actions in line with words. “ And do not kick in touch, once the World Day against homophobia and transphobia has passed, history that “Rugby for all”, World Rugby’s slogan, comes to life.
