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A Rugby Football Union assembly personnel has had his privileges suspended for 7 months aft making a discriminatory remark astir nan England World Cup victor and pundit Maggie Alphonsi.
Matthew Smith, who represents Warwickshire, made nan remark connected Facebook astir nan 42-year-old during France’s 48-46 triumph against England successful nan Six Nations earlier this year. He posted: “Can personification please explicate to maine WTF does Maggie Alphonsi cognize astir men’s rugby?”
An independent disciplinary sheet handed him a one-year prohibition but lowered it to 7 months because of mitigation. They cited his support of a 2025 girls’ rugby show and besides took into information his work to nan sport. He has had his RFU Council privileges and entree to RFU premises removed until 14 December, which includes lucifer tickets and recreation expenses.
Smith will beryllium capable to be meetings virtually and still holds his voting rights. The RFU does not person nan powerfulness to region a assembly member, a determination that would person to beryllium made by Warwickshire and its members.
Alphonsi, who won 7 Six Nations titles successful her profession earlier retiring successful 2014, has said she is “disappointed” pinch nan result of nan hearing.
In a statement, she said: “I person to publically take sides myself which will apt lead to further misogyny and sexism from group who arsenic clasp this view. I besides person to resistance this incident up again alternatively than beryllium done pinch it, which has evidently led to greater vexation and distress.
“Going guardant I will now apt person to strengthen further criticism, but Mr Smith initiated this incident and nan only reward he will person is not getting hospitality tickets to immoderate England games.
“I americium highly disappointed pinch this. It shows sexism and misogyny still exists wrong nan crippled and it’s important it is stamped retired and called out.”
Smith sent a missive of apology to Alphonsi aft his reward was confirmed.
He said separately: “I shouldn’t person shared my position online and apologise if this has caused immoderate offence to anyone. Once I realised my correction of judgement I instantly removed nan station connected nan Saturday night/early hours Sunday morning.
“I tin guarantee you that I had nary intent of causing immoderate offence and that unluckily I made an correction of judgement which was hampered by individual accent and anxiety.”
Alphonsi, who spent 9 years serving connected nan RFU council, was nan first erstwhile women’s subordinate to activity arsenic a pundit successful men’s Test rugby successful nan UK. She has been an established personnel of ITV’s punditry squad since nan 2015 World Cup.
