Sport
Trans Netball Players Banned Amid Safety and Fairness Concerns
Trans Netball Players Banned from League After Safety Concerns and Viral Video Spark Backlash.
In a decision that has ignited fierce debate across Australia's sporting community, two transgender netball players from Melton Central have been banned from competing in the Riddell District Netball Football League (RDFNL) for the remainder of the 2025 season. The move comes after rising safety concerns, threats of boycotts by rival teams, and the circulation of a controversial video showing one of the players involved in a forceful yet legal on-court incident.
The RDFNL released a formal statement on Wednesday confirming the ban, citing Section 42 of the Sex Discrimination Act as justification. According to the league, both players demonstrated a “superior stamina and physique” that posed a safety risk to other competitors, thus meeting the criteria for exclusion under the Act.
“After lengthy consideration and consultation, the RDFNL has ruled that the two transgender participants be excluded from the RDFNL Netball Competitions for the remainder of the 2025 season,” the statement read. The league emphasized that the decision was based not on gender identity, but on physicality that may create an unfair or dangerous playing environment.
The controversy intensified following the release of a video from last weekend’s game between Melton Central and Romsey. In the footage, Manawa Aranui — a trans player with a history of elite men’s netball experience prior to her transition — can be seen knocking a Romsey opponent to the ground in a high-impact but legal play. The video sparked widespread discussion online and further galvanized concerns about fairness and player safety.
Aranui, who has been a standout player since joining women’s competitions, was recently named best on court in a Division 1 grand final. Her continued dominance on the court has sparked unease among players and teams alike. One such team, the Melton South Netball Club, publicly threatened to forfeit matches if the two transgender players were allowed to continue competing.
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Melissa Dawson, netball coordinator for Melton South, voiced her apprehension in an interview with News Corp: “One of the players is six foot something – it’s ridiculous. Netball Victoria needs to put the safety of biological females first.”
Multiple players have also spoken out, describing personal experiences that highlight the physical imbalance they believe the transgender athletes bring to the court. A B-grade player named Erin shared her concerns: “I went up for the ball and just got pushed and dropped. They’re so much stronger, and I’m genuinely scared I’ll get hurt.” Erin added that she would sit out any future games involving the Melton Central team if the trans players remained in the lineup.
Another Melton South player noted that the controversy has discouraged women from participating in the sport they love. “We’ve worked hard to keep girls in the game. A boycott might be the only way to send a clear message.”
This is not the first time Aranui has faced exclusion. Earlier this year, the Ballarat Football Netball League deemed her ineligible following legal counsel that also referred to the Sex Discrimination Act. Despite this, she continued playing in the RDFNL while awaiting a formal ruling, and now, that ruling has arrived.
Melton Central Club President Paul Sinclair confirmed that both transgender players had continued to participate while awaiting direction from Netball Victoria. That guidance now appears to be taking shape through precedent-setting actions across local and regional leagues.
For its part, Netball Victoria maintains a firm stance on inclusion. In a statement responding to the RDFNL decision, a spokesperson said, “We support and welcome netballers of all backgrounds. That includes gender-diverse players who have rights under anti-discrimination laws.” The organization also pointed to its gender diversity policy, which was developed with advocacy group Proud 2 Play and aligns with national sport inclusion guidelines.
Netball Victoria’s 2018 bylaw changes allow non-binary and transgender players to register for women’s competitions based on self-identified gender rather than legal sex. This policy opened the door for many players, including David Capron — a national men’s netball player who now also competes in female leagues. Capron, who uses he/him and they/them pronouns, defended trans inclusion: “Biological gender has nothing to do with ability. My goal is to be a beacon of hope for queer youth in sport.”
However, growing safety and fairness concerns are prompting leagues to reconsider how those policies are applied. The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) guidelines call for compliance with the Sex Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sex or gender identity. Still, exemptions exist for competitive sports where strength, stamina, or physique can be objectively shown to influence outcomes or create safety risks.
“All Australians should have the opportunity to be involved in sport and physical activity,” the ASC guidelines state. “But it’s also important that participants are protected from discrimination, and that fairness and safety are upheld.”
The Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission released a set of guidelines in 2017 supporting transgender inclusion in sport. However, even those guidelines acknowledge that exemptions may apply if strength or physical dominance becomes a factor relevant to performance or safety.
This latest incident underscores the difficult balance between inclusion, fairness, and safety in community sports. With heightened public scrutiny, rising social tensions, and increased legal challenges, the case may well influence future sporting policies both in Victoria and across Australia.
For now, the RDFNL’s decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing national conversation about gender diversity in competitive sports — and whether current rules can adequately address the complexities involved.
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