Ben, 37, reportedly had to ask Emmerdale actress Gemma, 31, to deny they were having an affair, after 38-year-old Kristina got the wrong end of the stick.
Gemma – who plays Rachel Breckle on the ITV soap – met Ben earlier this year during a charity gala for for his StandUp Foundation, where they are said to have swapped numbers and made plans to meet up.
But, while Gemma has confirmed she and Ben were texting, she insisted there was nothing going on between her and the rugby hunk.
A source told the Mirror: “Gemma felt like piggy in the middle of a ridiculous situation. Kristina was clearly concerned someone else was getting her hands on her man.”
Strictly professional Kristina was allegedly alerted to Ben and Gemma’s messages by a friend, before confronting the soap star and leaving Ben hurrying to clear his name.
The source continued: “He sent a frantic group text [to Gemma and two of her friends], apologising for the childish nature of it all but explaining that Kristina had been told he was pestering Gemma for a date.
“Kristina was clearly upset and he was trying to do some damage control. He said obviously it wasn’t true – he had only been messaging Gemma as friends – but would they mind texting Kristina to explain that.
“Gemma told Kristina she was a beautiful woman and she had a lovely trustworthy boyfriend in Ben. Kristina wrote back to suggest they all meet up for a drink and that it was essentially a storm in a tea-cup.”
Gemma confirmed to the Mirror that she and Ben are nothing more than friends, and that she has spoken to Kristina.
Last year Ben split from estranged wife Abby after 23 years. They share seven-year-old twin daughters Harriette and Isabelle.