Referee Nigel Owens has revealed that the homophobic abuse he suffered while officiating an England international at Twickenham in 2014 almost forced him into an early retirement.
The Welshman, speaking ahead of this weekend's Pride event in Cardiff, also revealed that the intervention of a handwritten letter from Rugby Football Union chairman Bill Beaumont was the reason he decided against hanging up his whistle.
Two supporters were banned from Twickenham for two years and fined £1,000 each after an investigation into their actions during England's match against New Zealand in 2014.
"It was New Zealand vs England in Twickenham, I'd had a couple of phone calls asking me what I'd thought about the comments that had been shouted at me," Owens said.
"What we really don't know and what I don't know is were they true rugby people or were they people that just came along to that game?