A Rugby Football Union council member has been banned from Allianz Stadium for seven months after making a sexist remark about Maggie Alphonsi, the former England international.
Matthew Smith made the discriminatory comments in a Facebook post during England men’s match against France in this year’s Six Nations.
In a case that demonstrates the RFU’s crackdown on incidents of sexism and misogyny – reports of which have risen since last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup – Smith has been stripped of his privileges as a council member.
Smith, who is chairman of Warwickshire RFU and a chartered quantity surveyor, made the comment about Alphonsi while the 2014 World Cup winner was working as a pundit for ITV during the France-England match this year.
Smith wrote on Facebook: “Can someone explain to me WTF [what the f—] does Maggie Alphonsi know about men’s rugby?”
An independent disciplinary panel found Smith breached the RFU council’s code of conduct by publishing a discriminatory post and risking reputational damage to the union and the game. He accepted both charges and was handed a one-year sanction, reduced to seven months after mitigation, which included his support of a girls’ rugby festival in 2025. The panel also took into account his decades of service to the sport as a volunteer and noted his willingness to complete an RFU-approved equalities course. He did not receive the maximum 50 per cent reduction because “he had little or no insight into the sexist nature of his conduct”.
He has lost the right to access RFU premises until December 14, which effectively means he has been banned from Allianz Stadium during that period and will be unable to attend England’s three home matches in the Nations Championship this November. He has also lost his privileges as a council member, which means he will not receive tickets, travel expenses and meals for any home or away game. He could, though, attend England’s match against Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on July 11 as a member of the public.
Alphonsi said she was “extremely disappointed” with the decision, which she viewed as too lenient, and insisted more needed to be done to eradicate sexism and misogyny from the game.
In spite of his sanction, Smith will still be able to attend council meetings virtually, meaning he has not lost his voting rights.
The RFU also does not have any power to remove a council member, but a member’s constituent body – in this case Warwickshire – could consider removing Smith from his position.
Telegraph Sport understands the RFU is keen to use this judgment as an example of its zero tolerance for sexism and misogyny within the game. A key finding from research the union recently commissioned with the charity Women in Sport, found that 83 per cent of women in rugby have either experienced or witnessed sexism.
In a statement, Alphonsi, who has spoken about receiving racist and sexist abuse throughout her punditry career, said: “Going forward I will now likely have to endure further criticism, but Mr Smith initiated this incident and the only punishment he will receive is not getting hospitality tickets to some England games. I am extremely disappointed with this. It shows sexism and misogyny still exists within the game and it’s important it is stamped out and called out. What is most concerning about this situation is how he remains in a position of influence whilst still holding his views.”
In evidence submitted to the panel, Smith issued an apology to the RFU a day after writing his sexist post, saying: “I whole heartedly [sic] apologise for the Facebook post that was made on Saturday 14th March.
“I shouldn’t have shared my view online and apologise if this has caused any offence to anyone. Once I realised my error of judgment I immediately removed the post on the Saturday night/early hours Sunday morning.
“I can assure you that I had no intent of causing any offence and that unfortunately I made an error of judgment which was hampered by personal stress and anxiety.”
Alphonsi received a letter from Smith on May 21 – five days after the judgment – apologising to her for his remarks.