Sport: Rugby Country: England Category: General

RFU council member Matthew Smith punished for Alphonsi comments

BBC Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 4, 2026, 3:07 PM

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

RFU council member Matthew Smith punished for Alphonsi comments

Summary

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.

Source Links

BBC Sport

Key Details

•Smith stripped of hospitality perks for seven months due to derogatory comments.
•Alphonsi criticized Smith's punishment as insufficient.
•Smith accepted responsibility and apologized after the disciplinary ruling.
•The RFU is reforming its council structure under a new governance review.

Latest Updates

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

What they're saying

"
A member of the RFU council has been stripped of perks of his position for seven months – including tickets to England games, free meals and travel expenses – after posting discriminatory criticism.
— BBC Sport

Related Teams & Leagues

Rugby