On April 9, Guam’s High School Rugby season debuted after being dormant for 2 years due to COVID-19. 

This debut wasn’t without controversy, as people found out that a transgender player was on the roster for Guam High’s girls rugby team, a matter that is considered new territory for Guam Football Union/ Guam Department of Education Interscholastic Sports Association.   

Guam High’s team challenged three teams that day, causing some to speak out regarding safety concerns.  

Coach Conrad Kerber of the Tiyan High School’s girl’s rugby team was one of the individuals that drew concern over the matter.  

“This is a matter of safety for our young female athletes and should be acknowledged as an imperative issue requiring our immediate attention before one of our females athletes receives a more serious injury than what was imposed on Saturday,” he told GSPN.  

As of now, no laws exist for transgender players in the Guam Football Union/ Guam Department of Education Interscholastic Sports Association. Kerber along with Academy of Our Lady of Guam’s rugby coaches all agree that the league, should adopt the bylaws set by the World Rugby organization. 

World Rugby goes by a case to case basis and deems whether a transgender player is cleared to play based on whether they have transitioned pre-puberty vs. post puberty.  

Former Guam athlete and Division 1 rugby player, Ha’ani San Nicholas, advocated in favor of letting the young athlete remain in the girls league.  

“I know that many rugby players in high-level of play in the U.S. have protested against the trans-exclusivity of World Rugby’s bylaws.” San Nicholas stated.  

While the bylaws state trans-women who have transitioned post-puberty aren’t allowed to play rugby, no such bylaws exist for trans-men.  

“There’s a deeper issue at the root, which is the failure of organized sports to recognize a fluidity of genders and sexualities…the best option moving forward, in my opinion, is to let transgender players play in their gender-identified league.” San Nicholas said.  

San Nicholas goes on to point out that Guam may or may not be ready for mixed-gender leagues based on caliber and skill, it has protentional to be the future standard.  

Another fellow teen rugby player, who remains anonymous, also spoke highly in favor of allowing the player to remain in the league.  

“In a way I do feel like she’s being discriminated against for the simple fact that she is transgender,” she told The Guam Daily Post.  

She mentions that if the GHS player were born a girl of her size, no concern would be raised, and there is indeed other girls who are stronger and faster than her.  

She ends her interview by saying she believes the adults shouldn’t stand in the way of letting her [GHS player] play, as they should remember she is only a minor wanting to learn a sport she likes.  

On April 22, Guam Department of Education released a statement communicating concerns over reinstating any new conditions or restrictions when the Interscholastic Sports Association Rugby season has already started.  

GDOE expressed that it is because the season has already begun that any new conditions could risk violating Title IX which prohibits discrimination in Interscholastic sports.  

Six days after this statement, the Guam Rugby Union confirmed their decision to adopt the World Rugby organization by laws, therefore prohibiting any transgender athletes from participating in the Interscholastic Sports Association Girls Rugby season.  

Some people took the opportunity to voice their opinions regarding this decision through comments on Guam Sports Network’s Instagram page, with the hashtag #letherplay.