Transgender participation in women’s sport is a complex and divisive issue, and McKenzie fears being excluded from competition
World Rugby is considering a proposal to ban transgender athletes from women’s contact rugby due to safety concerns that they say have emerged from recent independent research, claiming there was likely to be “at least a 20-30% greater risk” of injury when a female player is tackled by someone who has gone through male puberty.
Its current rules allow trans women to play as long as they suppress their testosterone levels for at least 12 months, in line with International Olympic Committee policy.
But the governing body has undertaken a “comprehensive review” of that policy, telling BBC Sport in a statement that it was not working.
“The latest peer-reviewed research confirms that a reduction of testosterone does not lead to a proportionate reduction in mass, muscle mass, strength or power,” said the statement.
“These important determinants of injury risk and performance remain significantly elevated after testosterone suppression.
“This presents a clear safety risk when transgender women play women’s contact rugby.”
The draft proposals have been welcomed by some women’s groups who insist women’s sport needs to be protected, and regard the move by World Rugby as a “trailblazing” approach towards the sensitive issue of trans inclusion.
Dr Nicola Williams of women’s rights advocacy group Fair Play for Women attended World Rugby’s transgender workshop in February and has “commended” the governing body for its “bravery and integrity” in tackling the issue.
But Loughborough University medical physicist and trans woman Joanna Harper, who also attended the workshop, did not agree with “an outright ban”.
Trans athletes have also expressed concern, and activists like McKenzie have described it as “a gut punch”.
“I think the fear of losing rugby as a community and supportive space has been weighing on me quite heavily,” said McKenzie. “There isn’t a moment I don’t worry about losing that access.”
If World Rugby’s proposal is upheld, it would be the first international sports federation to prohibit trans women from competing in women’s sport.