The partner of the England rugby captain, Chris Robshaw, has said she feared for her safety after receiving abuse following the team’s loss to Wales last weekend.
Camilla Kerslake said she had been abused on Twitter and disgruntled England fans had discovered her address in south London and shouted at her from the street.
“It’s been scary … I don’t know how people know where we live,” she told the Sun.
The 27-year-old classical singer has since taken Robshaw’s dog, a German shepherd-rottweiler cross, to her home for protection, and has asked a friend to stay.
The abuse is believed to have been motivated by Robshaw’s failed attempt to secure a match-winning try in the final moments of England’s game against Wales in the Rugby World Cup.
The captain opted to kick a penalty into touch, handing England a line-out deep in Wales’ half with minutes to go, rather than opt for a three-point kick that would have tied the game.
“I’m struggling with being disliked by some people because of the negative side of the wag label,” Kerslake said, adding: “When we’re at home we try to keep things mundane. He doesn’t talk to me about singing and I don’t talk to him about his rugby.”
England face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday in a match that the host nation must win to remain in the competition.