The IRFU has altered its gender participation policy, with transgender women no longer allowed to play contact female rugby in Ireland.
Union chiefs say the change from this season is in line with World Rugby guidance and stems from evidence from medical and scientific studies.
Only those whose sex was recorded as female at birth can play contact rugby in the female category.
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The IRFU have said that the change in policy, which applies to players over the age of 12, would affect two registered players in Ireland.
Talks have been held with those players around participating in tag or touch rugby, or by going into coaching, refereeing or volunteering, with the IRFU insisting they are valued within the game.
In the male category, players whose sex is recorded at birth as female may continue to play if they provide written consent and a risk assessment is carried out.
"The IRFU has spoken to players we are permitted to contact directly and will work with them to support on-going participation in the sport," said the Union in a statement.
Anne Marie Hughes, the IRFU's Spirit of Rugby Manager, has been working on the issue for several years.
Murphy commented: “The IRFU is committed to inclusivity and has worked with the players and other groups in the LGBT+ community to explain that this change is based solely on new research related to safety.
"This is a particularly sensitive area, and it is important that respect is shown to all members of our rugby family and the wider community.
“We will continue to work to be as inclusive as we can be and to explore areas such as tag and touch rugby, which we know some of our players are already considering, refereeing, volunteering, and coaching.
“We continue to stand with the LGBT+ community, and while we accept that today some may feel disappointed in this decision, we want to again underline to them – there is a place for everyone in rugby, and we can all work together.”
In it's updated gender policy document, the Union states: "Although we have endeavoured to find alternative solutions, the IRFU must recognise World Rugby’s position on this area and more recently the SCEG’s guidelines.
"Both sources emphasise that inclusion of transgender and non-binary players assigned male at birth that have experienced the biological effects of testosterone during puberty or adolescence in female contact rugby cannot be balanced against considerations of safety and fairness.
"This is due to retained advantages in strength, stamina and physique between the average transgender female assigned male at birth (who has passed through puberty and adolescence), and the average female.
"Research has shown that this advantage cannot be addressed even with testosterone suppression.
"As a result, the IRFU are obliged to adopt a precautionary approach with respect to playing and training in contact rugby, an approach which needs to be applied in order to ensure fair competition and the safety of competitors.
"Therefore, due to developmental changes brought about by male puberty, it is appropriate and necessary to maintain a female only category of contact rugby as well as certain eligibility requirements for male categories from 12 years old and upwards and continuing into the adult game.
"The latter is intended to ensure that transgender people wishing to play male contact rugby have the appropriate experience and competence to participate safely."
It added: "Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) wishes to ensure that as many people as is safe and practicable get an opportunity to play and participate in the game of rugby.
"The IRFU seeks to provide an environment that accommodates requests to play the game irrespective of gender identity
"Accordingly, there are a range of considerations that should be considered when transgender and non-binary players are playing the full contact game.
"The IRFU has a responsibility to regulate the participation of all players in both training and competition and to provide a safe and equitable environment.
"As the game is physical, where strength, stamina and physique can affect the outcome of a person’s safety, the inclusion of transgender and nonbinary players requires guidance to ensure that, whatever a player’s declared gender, this is balanced with the safety of all players in training and competition.
"The guidance is necessary to ensure, insofar as possible, that transgender and nonbinary players are not excluded from the opportunity to participate in rugby.
"The overriding objective is and remains the guarantee of fair and safe competition.
"Restrictions on participation are appropriate to the extent that they are necessary and proportionate to the achievement of that objective.
"The IRFU, in conjunction with World Rugby, Sport Ireland, Sport NI and other organisations will continually monitor and review this policy in accordance with the most up to date research, recommendations and advice."
"The IRFU has at all times over the past years endeavoured to prioritise inclusion and diversity when making decisions concerning the administration of the game.
"There have been significant external developments in this area which have influenced and shaped the IRFU’s position for its own gender participation policy, most noticeably the significant research undertaken by World Rugby which ultimately shaped World Rugby’s Transgender Guidelines & Sport Councils Equality Group (SCEG) guidelines.
"Since August 2020, the IRFU along with the other Home Unions have collaborated and shared resources in an attempt to review this area in light of World Rugby’s updated guidelines.
"The IRFU will continue to engage with these bodies, rugby participants and other key stakeholders and specialists to keep this area under review.
"This includes facilitating, contributing to and/or learning from further research that may be instigated in this area as well as working with World Rugby and other unions to develop other inclusive formats of the game of rugby union.
"Although the IRFU will always strive to be fully inclusive and to provide equal opportunities for all our participants, we must do so in as safe and as fair a way as possible.
"As a result, when determining the eligibility criteria set out below, the IRFU have endeavoured to strike the difficult balance between both safety and fairness and inclusion."
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