World Rugby have set themselves apart as a sporting code with common sense and a healthy respect for science.

New guidelines have been drawn up to cover the participation of transgender athletes in men and women's contact rugby where it is possible to do so safely and fairly.

As a result, transgender men are permitted to participate in men's contact rugby but the same does not apply to transgender women in women's rugby.

"Given the best available evidence for the effects of testosterone reduction on these physical attributes for transgender women, it was concluded that safety and fairness cannot presently be assured for women competing against transwomen in contact rugby," said a World Rugby statement.

"As a result, the new guidelines do not recommend that transwomen play women's contact rugby on safety grounds at the elite and international level of the game where size, strength, power and speed are crucial for both risk and performance, but do not preclude national unions from flexibility in their application of the guidelines at the community level of the game.”

Kirralie Smith, Binary spokeswoman, was pleased with the new guidelines.

“This is sensible and fair. Women in sport need to be confident they have a level playing field and their rights and privacy as women will be respected and protected. The science is demonstrably clear, women do not have the same capacity as men when it comes to strength, size and power. This is good decision by world rugby to ensure as many people as possible can enjoy the game.”