A former England rugby league player and leading female pundit has appeared in court to deny sexually assaulting a woman at a cricket club.
Danika Priim, a former prop for Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos and England, appeared briefly at Leeds Crown Court to deny a single charge of sexual assault.
The 40-year-old is accused of assaulting the woman at Horsforth Cricket Club in Leeds on July 22, 2022.
Priim was granted bail ahead of her trial – which was scheduled to last three days, starting on November 16, 2026.
The defendant, who played for England at the 2017 World Cup, retired from the game in 2021 and had appeared on TV as a pundit for BBC, Channel 4 and Sky Sports.
Priim, of Keighley, West Yorkshire, declined to comment as she left court.
After MailOnline revealed Priim had been charged with sexual assault last month, she stood down from her role as vice-president of the Rugby Football League, which she had only held since last September.
The RFL said in a statement: ‘The Rugby Football League can confirm that it has been agreed that Danika Priim will voluntarily stand down from her role as RFL vice-president whilst ongoing legal proceedings take place.
Danika Priim, a former prop for Bradford Bulls, Leeds Rhinos and England, appeared briefly at Leeds Crown Court to deny a single charge of sexual assault
Priim partially covered her face with a scarf as she left Leeds Crown Court on Thursday
‘The Rugby Football League will be making no further comment until completion of the legal proceedings.’
Priim enjoyed a stellar six-year career in which she won every major domestic honour and earned international honours for England.
The former teacher began sports commentating after stepping back from the game in 2021, appearing on the BBC and Sky television and on radio.
She was also part of Channel 4’s Super League production in 2022, where she was nominated for the prestigious Broadcast Sport Awards.
In 2022, Priim was being named as part of the BBC team for the Rugby League World Cup, describing her appointment as a ‘dream come true’. She also covered the Olympic rugby 7s at the Paris 2024 games.
In September last year, Priim was appointed as vice-chair of the Rugby Football League, alongside president Adam Hills, the presenter of Channel 4 talk show The Last Leg.
In a LinkedIn post at the start of the year, Priim told followers: ‘A little late to the party but HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Danika Priim, 40, has stood down from her role as Rugby Football League vice-president after the allegations
Priim, a leading commentator and analyst for the Beeb, Channel 4 and Sky Sports, denies sexual assault
Priim was part of the Leeds team who secured the Challenge Cup and Super League double in 2019
‘2024 I turned 40, left my job as a teacher and worked my dream job at the Olympics.
‘I’ve developed my broadcasting skills and roles, hosted award ceremonies from a Concorde, had the privilege of going to so many events, openings and awards dinners!
‘I became a TOP TRUMP and was asked to be the Vice President of the RFL (12 year old fan girl Danika could never have even dreamed it)!
‘I’ve worked with tennis icons, insane athletes and some of the most talented individuals behind the scenes of it all, some I now call close friends who continuously put up with my questions & queries!
‘I’ve had the freedom to travel when I like and got to see so many live musicians!
‘If 2025 is even a fraction of fun and success I’ll be happy!!
‘Here’s to a healthy, happy, prosperous and bloody brilliant year for us all.’
But after the allegations surfaced, she stepped down from the role.
Last year Priim told how she had considered quitting punditry after receiving abuse and threats over social media.
She said: ‘I love what I do. I absolutely love every second of it. I’m in a phenomenal opportunity that I get to go and do loads of new things. But is it worth the day or two where I have cried?
‘You know, getting inbox messages from people direct messaging me to say that they want to slit my throat because I didn’t like their team.
‘I have thought what’s the point? I have thought about stopping doing it at the end of last year. But then you remember that the people who employ you are the ones whose opinions matter.
‘I’d say 90% of the time it’s okay, but the other 10% can be a really rough ride.’
Priim made her Leeds Rhinos debut against her former club Bradford Bulls in 2018 and went onto make 29 appearances, scoring three tries.
She was part of the Leeds team who secured the Challenge Cup and Super League double in 2019.
Priim made her England debut in 2015 and represented the national squad in the 2017 World Cup in Australia before retiring aged 37.
She is also a classically-trained ballet dancer.
