Families, coaches and players are expressing concern after three biological female athletes were injured by a transgender athlete during a rugby match in Guam.
KUAM News reported three Tiyan High School female rugby athletes were injured over the weekend by a Guam High transgender player.
Conrad Kerber, the head coach for both Tiyan Boys and Girls Rugby teams, told the outlet, “The aggressive nature that was witnessed clearly showed that it’s a definite issue that we have to deal with.”
He added, “I had three players that were injured in that first game against Guam High directly by that particular player. Right now, we just have to come together as a group and discuss the proper path to take, discuss what the parameters are with allowing transgender males in full contact sports such as rugby.”
The outlet noted Kerber hopes the league will adopt the “World Rugby Law” Transgender Guideline.
According to the guideline, “Transgender women may not currently play women’s rugby because of the size, force- and power-producing advantages conferred by testosterone during puberty and adolescence, and the resultant player welfare risks serious injuries.”
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Kerber explained, “Body size, body strength, and the ability to apply force with that size and strength completely dominate any girl that I have on my team.”
He went on to argue it is “purely a safety issue when we discuss transgender males playing in female sports at a youth level particularly at this type of contact sport as well.”
Kerber continued, “I’m basically in line with the world rugby guidelines regarding transgender males playing female sports and basically across the world it’s not permitted.”
The head coach stressed the issue “has to do purely with the size, force, and strength disadvantage that transgender males will have over females in this type of sport.”
The report comes as the debate over transgender athletes continues to spread across the nation.
Last month, Lia Thomas became the first known transgender athlete to take home a Division I national championship.
Thomas commented on criticism during an interview with ESPN.
“I try to ignore it as much as I can,” Thomas said.
The swimmer added, “I try to focus on my swimming, what I need to do to get ready for my races. And just try to block out everything else.”