Erasmus was given a suspension by World Rugby but Barnes opened up on the abuse he received which forced him to report two perpetrators to the police. “Criticism on social media quickly becomes abuse,” Barnes told The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.
“That is the world we live in. That is social media. But I make the decision to be a referee, make the decision to be on social media. Polly, my wife, doesn’t make the decision to be a referee.
“On the Saturday night, there started to be some direct abuse at Polly. Then, the following two or three days, there was direct abuse to Polly, threats of sexual violence and threats against the kids. That takes it to a different level. When you’ve done 100 games, you think you can prepare for most things. You can’t prepare for that.”
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