RFU council member banned for comments about Maggie Alphonsi

Matt Smith, a council member of the Rugby Football Union, received a seven-month ban from Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium following a controversial social media post about Maggie Alphonsi. Smith questioned the former England international's expertise in men’s rugby in a Facebook post, leading to an inquiry by the RFU. An independent disciplinary panel found him guilty of discriminatory behavior and breaching media policy. Smith expressed regret and apologized in a subsequent email after recognizing his mistake. He will miss England's three home matches in the Nations Championship scheduled for November 2026 due to this suspension.

• 3:09 PMYahoo Sports — RFU council member banned from Twickenham over Maggie Alphonsi message