Historic rugby match in Oslo: Cis women v trans women face-off tackles misconceptions

Former England prop Sasha Acheson was instrumental in organising a sevens game between cis and trans women. Photo / Getty Images

THE FACTS

• Oslo hosted a historic rugby match between cis women and trans women to challenge misconceptions about women’s safety in rugby.
• The ‘Ruck You’ match, initiated by Sasha Acheson, aimed to protest bans on trans women in rugby.
• Cis women won 34-7, highlighting international experience over perceived advantages from male puberty.

Oslo, Norway might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a location for a historic rugby match. However, over King’s Birthday weekend, it was this city that played host to a world first: a sevens match featuring a team of cis women facing a team of trans women, looking to tackle the misconceptions about women’s safety in rugby.

The idea for the “Ruck You” match was kicked off by former England prop Sasha Acheson. She was soon joined by other high-profile members of the women’s rugby community such as current Red Roses Meg Jones and Poppy Cleall. Former Irish international Anna Caplice, with former USA players Kimber Rozier, Jess Wooden and Alycia Washington, all lent their voices to the cause. The latter two walked the talk, travelling to join Acheson to play in the match.

Given the current ban on trans players in England, the game had to be played offshore to ensure the trans women’s team could take part. Oslo became the logical setting as the International Gay Rugby Union Cup was being held there. Europe’s largest inclusive rugby tournament has been playing for 20 years, trying to live by the example of rugby being for all. More than 45 teams from around the world travelled to take part, including those participating in this exhibition match.

That it was an exhibition match held to challenge the view of rugby administrators is about as women’s rugby as it gets. That was the same approach cis women have taken throughout the games’ history. One-off matches, played to protest the perceptions of the day, occurred frequently throughout the 1900s. Their goal was the same: to allow greater participation in the sport. Their opposition was the same too: dubious sport science used to ban certain players due to purported fears for cis women’s safety.

Much has been written about the science used by World Rugby and England Rugby to justify their ban. Central to the ongoing debate is the question of whether those assigned male at birth have an unassailable sporting advantage over those who were assigned female at birth. One look at my brothers and I can answer that question – but still the debate rages on.

While science squabbles, trans women have been sidelined. Meanwhile, cis women players like Acheson’s Red Roses and our own Black Ferns frequently face cis men’s sides as part of their training. Sir Wayne Smith organised several men’s teams to play the Black Ferns before their last triumphant World Cup campaign. And it’s not just elite players, I’ve trained live against men in the club environment.

It’s that type of lived experience that puts the women’s rugby community offside with their administrators. There’s a lot of talk about us and not enough with us, which is why Acheson took action, tackling the strawman and playing those deemed too dangerous. It was the cis women who won on the day, 34-7, proving that international women’s playing experience was a greater advantage than male puberty on the pitch. The trans women’s team only scored when they played alongside the cis women. The teams mixed it up in the second half to make it more of a contest.

What happened in Oslo was in direct response to the politics that have banned trans women from sport. It was a statement from cis women saying firmly, not in our name. It was a historic event, but also a deeply human one. A member of the trans women’s team said it best: “Just to have fun with some people, that’s life.”

That’s life, one we all hope to live.

Alice Soper is a sports columnist for the Herald on Sunday. A former provincial rugby player and current club coach, she has a particular interest in telling stories of the emerging world of women’s sports.