The 38-year-old said ‘now feels the right time to take a break’ from internationals but will continue to referee Premiership matches

The television match official from the Rugby World Cup final stepped away from the international game "for the foreseeable future" on Monday, blaming a “torrent of criticism and abuse online." English official Tom Foley made a series of big calls in the title match between New Zealand and South Africa in October in Paris,

Match official Tom Foley will take a break from international rugby because of the "torrent of abuse" he received after the World Cup final.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has come out strongly against the abuse of referees after another match official has decided to leave the international game following the recent Rugby World Cup final. Earlier in the week,

Referee Tom Foley will take a step back from officiating international rugby after receiving a “torrent of criticism and abuse” after the Rugby World Cup final.