A 20-year-old rugby player recently detailed a traumatic injury she sustained during a match against a male athlete. Elena King, who competes in the Dutch Premiership, had her foot pulled from its socket, resulting in severe damage, including severed ligaments. She fears this injury could lead to chronic knee pain throughout her life.
In an interview, King expressed her disbelief at the strength that was used against her, saying, “I felt the power being used against me. I don’t possess that kind of strength.” She noted, “I heard a loud pop and that’s when I started screaming. My legs felt like they were on fire.”
King questioned the inclusion of male athletes in women’s professional leagues and expressed concern over the potential for such injuries to others. “I don’t want this to happen to anyone again. It could have been avoided,” she emphasized.
Back in 2020, World Rugby implemented a rule barring men from competing in women’s rugby unless they had undergone specific biological changes associated with testosterone during adolescence. The organization noted a significant increase in injury risk associated with male players, highlighting that their head and neck strength could be 20-30% greater, and their upper body strength up to 100% more than that of women.
Following the incident, the male player involved has been suspended indefinitely and will need to undergo a training program. Simone des Bruin, a high-performance board member at Rugby Nederland, mentioned, “A ban was put in place to facilitate further investigation and discussions with stakeholders.”
While addressing the situation, officials stressed the importance of inclusion and player safety. However, they did not specifically address the heightened injury risk posed by male players. More information regarding the organization’s transgender policy is expected later this year.
King also pointed out a troubling aspect of these discussions: women’s apprehension about voicing concerns due to fears of being labeled biased. “My friend calls it transphobia. There’s a fear of speaking out in case of being labeled,” she shared.
“We want the best for everyone and wish for inclusion, but it’s crucial to understand why certain things might not be feasible,” she concluded.
