RFU council member Matthew Smith punished for Alphonsi comments

Matthew Smith, a member of the Rugby Football Union council, has been penalized for seven months after he made discriminatory remarks about Maggie Alphonsi in a Facebook post. During a match in March, he questioned Alphonsi's qualifications to comment on men's rugby. A disciplinary panel determined that his comments violated the council's code of conduct, which has a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination. Alphonsi expressed disappointment over the punishment's leniency, stating that it demonstrates the ongoing issues of sexism and misogyny in rugby. Smith has since apologized and accepted responsibility for his comments.

• 3:07 PMBBC Sport — RFU council member punished for post about Alphonsi