A referee says he has received death threats towards him and his young family since he was involved in the Rugby World Cup Final. Tom Foley was the television match official for the game between South Africa and New Zealand last month. World Rugby has recorded more than 2,000 direct threats against match officials in recent weeks.

World Rugby has come under fire from one of its leading referees for introducing the television match official “bunker” at such short notice before this year’s World Cup.

Tom Foley, the television match official for the World Cup final, said he and his family received death threats in the wake of South Africa’s victory over New Zealand with abusers even emailing the school of his young children.