The English Rugby Football Union has launched an investigation into allegations of homophobic abuse of referee Nigel Owens during the All Blacks' victory over England at Twickenham last Sunday.
Referee Owens, who is openly gay, is claimed to have been the subject of discriminatory taunts by supporters during the All Blacks' 24-21 win of which he came under criticism for various decisions referred to the Television Match Official.
"We take any allegations of any abuse very seriously and are investigating this matter," an RFU spokesperson told the Independent newspaper.
The RFU were first made aware of the allegations when a spectator wrote a letter to the Guardian newspaper saying that they witnessed the abuse from a group of men he estimated to be their mid-30s.
"I could not believe that a bunch of men half my age watching a rugby match in the 21st century could be capable of hurling such nasty, foul-mouthed, racist, homophobic abuse at an openly gay match official," read the letter published in The Guardian.
