An England Women rugby league player is facing a ban after being sent off for allegedly claiming a referee was favouring her opponents and saying to the match official: “Which one are you shagging?”
York Valkyrie’s hooker Sinead Peach, who is also an England international, was sent off by the referee Oliver Salmon during her side’s 18-8 defeat away against St Helens in the Women’s Super League on Saturday after making a remark following a decision against her team.
The match official stopped the game and called Peach to him after an exchange of words, and told the 27-year-old player: “I’m not having you saying, ‘Which one are you shagging?’ You’re off.”
Peach is now due to face a match review panel on Thursday, which will consider disciplinary action, but this is such an unusual case with no precedent that it is difficult to predict the length of the ban if the charge is proved.
It is understood there is no doubt about Salmon’s words as they were clearly captured on the referee’s microphone, though it is unclear whether Peach accepts she made the comment.
The most likely charge Peach will face is for questioning the integrity of a match official.
In the men’s Super League in August, Hull Kingston Rovers’ Tyrone May received a two-match ban for a flippant comment to the referee claiming he was showing sympathy to Salford Red Devils as they were being so heavily beaten.
There is also the possibility that Peach could face extra charges of using unacceptable language.
Peach was named the Woman of Steel — awarded to the Super League’s player of the year — in 2023, scoring 13 tries in 17 games as Valkyrie won the title. She signed a new professional deal before taking maternity leave to have a baby, and has since returned to playing.
She previously played for Featherstone Rovers and Castleford Tigers.