Alan,

I'm afraid I was rather overstating the case. I believe there have been debates about whether or not women's sides or sides with women should be allowed into the Ring since I started dancing (late 70's). The debates about whether or not women should dance morris were probably way back in the early days.

I understand that the Ring's position for quite a while has been that it is an association of men's morris clubs and doesn't presume to interfere in individual sides' policies. And, as you say, EFDSS doesn't care either.