The International Rugby League (IRL) has banned transgender players from women's international competition on Tuesday until further notice, following global swimming's decision to restrict trans athletes' participation at the elite level.
The League said it needed to further consult and balance transgender participation against "perceived risk" to other players.
"Until further research is completed to enable the IRL to implement a formal transgender inclusion policy, male-to-female (trans women) players are unable to play in sanctioned women's international rugby league matches," the IRL said in a statement.
The ban, which comes after FINA voted on Sunday to restrict transgender athletes in elite women's swimming, was condemned by transgender advocates and sportspeople.
Of course, not everyone is happy about the ruling.
"It's disappointing. We're human beings the same as everyone else," transgender woman male Caroline Layt, who played elite women's rugby league in Australia after transitioning, told Reuters.
"It just tells trans kids and trans adults that you're not worthy. Don't even bother. Don't even bother showing up. What's the point?"
Other sports have policies restricting transgender athletes in top women's competition, including rugby union, cycling and Australian Rules football.
Other sports are reviewing their policies.
World soccer governing body FIFA said it is in a consultation process over transgender participation while World Athletics boss Sebastian Coe praised FINA for its stance.
A top medical official at FINA told Reuters on Monday he hoped other sports would follow the organization’s lead.
"To my mind, FINA’s approach to this was very enlightened, it was very balanced, it was informed," FINA's Sports Medicine Committee vice chairman David Gerrard said.
However, U.S. soccer player Megan Rapinoe, a two-time World Cup winner, Olympic gold medallist and Woman Who Has Played Against Boys Once And Lost said the FINA decision was "disgusting" and "cruel".
"We're (framing) everything through 'God forbid a trans person be successful in sports'. Get a grip on reality and take a step back," she told Time magazine.
Fine, Megan - let them play in their own league.
The IRL said it would work with the eight nations competing at the women's Rugby League World Cup hosted by England in November to obtain data to inform a transgender policy in 2023.
"The IRL will continue to work towards developing a set of criteria, based on best possible evidence, which fairly balance the individual's right to play with the safety of all participants."