STEPHANIE Rice has been dumped by sponsor Jaguar Australia for blurting the "other" f-bomb - the incendiary gay slur - on Twitter.

The luxury car maker severed ties after former rugby league star Ian Roberts branded Rice – "and anyone who sponsors her" – a "complete idiot" for an ill-advised tweet referring to the Wallabies' defeat of the Springboks on Saturday.

"Suck on that f--gots," she posted. Rice later apologised and removed the comment.

But Jaguar Australia general manager Kevin Goult announced late yesterday: "Jaguar Australia today terminated its relationship with Stephanie Rice, who has been an ambassador for the Jaguar brand in Australia since the start of 2010."

It is not clear whether Rice will retain use of the late-model Jaguar she has been driving around Brisbane, since the company would not reveal the terms of her agreement and its termination.

This comes as a further blow to Rice after shoulder surgery forced a withdrawal from the Commonwealth Games (and her contract with Channel 7 lapsed last month).

It also scotches the swimmer's participation in a major Sydney fashion event this week as Jaguar's "brand ambassador".

Vogue online editor Damien Woolnough, who was to host Rice for an "In Bed with Vogue" talkfest as part of the mag's global Fashion's Night Out on Thursday, had earlier defended the swimmer's character. "I've met her a few times. I think she's a lovely girl. From what I can tell, she's got a good nature," he told us.

"But obviously she made a big mistake and hopefully she'll learn from it – and (with) her learning from it, others will as well."