[R]eferees say they have to take it on trust rather than check whether a player has been cleared by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
One, who did not want to be identified, said: “Being forced to prioritise hurt feelings over broken bones exposes me to personal litigation from female players who have been damaged by players who are biologically male. This is driving female players and referees out of the game.”
Another referee, who said they had encountered five bearded players in women’s teams in half a season, said: “If you even ask the question, you are told you are a bigot.”
A Swedish study found that after 12 months of hormone therapy, a trans woman was still likely to have performance benefits over one whose gender identity matched their sex at birth.
Source: Too strong trans players in women’s rugby are driving referees away | News | The Sunday Times