Cohen gets death threats

England wing Ben Cohen revealed yesterday that he had received death threats over Saturday's opening Six Nations rugby match against Wales in Cardiff.

'I got five or six abusive letters and some of them contained death threats,' he said.

'I handed them straight to the police. They all had a South Wales postmark and may have been sent by the same person.'

Cohen, who recovered from the tragedy of his father's death two months ago to reclaim his international place, annoyed Welsh fans with what appeared to be a put-down of his opposite number, Shane Williams - 'Shane who?' - during a TV interview after England's 46-12 win at Twickenham last year.

'I said "Shane who?? because I didn't know whether the question referred to Shane Howarth or Shane Williams,' said Cohen.

'That part of it wasn't used and it made me look a right arrogant sod. I wouldn't say that about anyone.

'I'd love to write back to whoever's sent me the letters and put them right. A death threat is not nice but I'm not going to let it affect my performance.'

England have no plans to step up security for Saturday's match.