30/09/2026
A joint statement between Pride In Touch and IGR Touch:
RESPONSE TO England Touch Participation policy change
Pride In Touch, together with IGR TOUCH and IGR International Gay Rugby is disheartened, frustrated and deeply disappointed by the participation policy change published by England Touch, which ends eligibility for competitive Touch based on self-identified gender. This will restrict trans, non-binary and inters*x players from accessing the full pathway available to others. It has been released for implementation with immediate effect.
As one of very few sports that offers an on-field mixed playing format, Touch has long had the capacity to lead on gender inclusion. The previous trans, non-binary and gender diverse participation policy, published in 2021 and developed in partnership with Pride In Touch, reflected that leadership.
The prior policy was built through meaningful consultation with organisations including Pride Sports, Mermaids, Women’s Sports Alliance and Baseball Softball UK, and provided practical guidance to support inclusive participation across the game. It was a key defining output of the newly established EDI working group at that time, developed with collaboration and care.
In July 2025, England Touch CEO Vince Mayne assured Pride In Touch that the organisation intended to convene a panel which “will be tasked with capturing the voices of all parties impacted by the Supreme Court ruling, collecting research evidence to support the process and conducting an assessment of risk, fairness and inclusion”. However, no such expert panel was appointed and instead the organisation “took legal guidance from other, larger NGBs and sports agencies”.
Without public communication, the previous inclusive policy was removed from the England Touch website in early 2026 and placed under review. As soon as Pride In Touch was aware that England Touch were preparing to publish this recent policy update, an opportunity was sought and granted to speak with the organisation.
Pride In Touch made a strong recommendation that the ETA board agree to a period of consultation which “should include a broad and representative mix of the Touch community, regardless of gender identity” and “ensuring those impacted have an opportunity to be heard”. That recommendation has not been followed despite over six months passing.
We are not aware of any consultation having taken place with trans, non-binary or inters*x participants, nor with organisations with relevant expertise in LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport. This absence of engagement is compounded by wider governance concerns, including the dissolution of the England Touch EDI working group and non-appointment of a replacement EDI officer, the non-renewal of its partnership with Pride In Touch, and the organisation currently operating without a Head of Governance.
England Touch has stated that the new policy provides legal clarity while continuing to enable participation. However, in practice, it introduces restrictions that exclude players from parts of the sport on the basis of eligibility criteria determined by s*x recorded at birth. This marks a significant departure from the previous inclusive approach and from the values that have historically underpinned participation in Touch.
Beyond the process concerns, the policy itself raises a number of substantive questions. Pride In Touch and IGR Touch recognise that the legal and regulatory landscape has changed significantly since the previous policy was introduced in 2021, including the Supreme Court judgment on the definition of s*x under the Equality Act and the subsequent EHRC statutory Code of Practice which came into force in August 2026.
The EHRC Code provides guidance on the application of s*x-based participation rules in gender-affected sport, including that such rules should be applied on the basis of biological s*x. However, the Code also states that policies should be supported by clear reasoning and an evidence base, taking account of factors including competitive advantage, safety, alternative arrangements that could enable participation, and the nature of the activity itself. No Touch-specific evidence or analysis underpinning England Touch’s application of this framework has been published alongside the policy.
There is also a lack of transparency around how this decision has been reached. No Equality Impact Assessment or equivalent analysis has been published. England Touch has not explained what evidence informed its determination that these restrictions are appropriate across competitive Touch, including its mixed format, nor what alternative arrangements were considered. This makes it difficult for participants and the wider Touch community to understand how the new approach was reached.
The policy further creates uncertainty for participants through a lack of clarity in its application. There is insufficient consideration of how it affects non-binary and inters*x players, how it applies across youth and development pathways, and what safeguards will be put in place to protect the wellbeing and privacy of those impacted. The absence of supporting guidance on implementation, communication and safeguarding leaves clubs, volunteers and players without the tools needed to apply the policy consistently and safely.
Finally, the decision represents a clear shift away from the previous policy developed in partnership with stakeholders, without transparent explanation of how and why the new approach was reached. That earlier policy enabled participation in line with gender identity, supported by practical guidance and a clear commitment to inclusion at all levels of the game. Moving away from that model without meaningful consultation or publication of the evidence and analysis informing the decision risks undermining trust within the Touch community and contradicts the organisation’s stated commitments to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Pride In Touch and IGR Touch remain committed to supporting an inclusive, evidence-based and consultative approach to participation in Touch. We would welcome the opportunity to work constructively with England Touch and the wider community to ensure that the sport remains accessible, safe and enjoyable for all.
