Rugby: Thomas could be first of many to exit closet

Gareth Thomas does not want to be known as a ‘gay rugby player’. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The shock decision by rugby union player Gareth Thomas to announce that he is gay has triggered speculation that other sports stars might come out.

Thomas is Wales' most-capped player and a former British and Irish Lions captain. The fact that he has confirmed his sexuality while still playing the game has been praised by gay rights campaigners.

This week the rugby star said he hoped he could make a difference to others struggling with their sexuality.

But he said he did not want to be known as a "gay rugby player" and hoped people would treat his sexuality as "irrelevant" to his career.

"What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do with what I have achieved in rugby," he said. "I'd love for it, in 10 years' time, not to even be an issue in sport, and for people to say: 'So what?"'

Thomas said the secret of his sexuality was like a "ticking bomb" which he had tried to suppress. "I just couldn't ignore it any more," he said.

"It is very positive Gareth has come out while he is still an active player," said gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

"Rugby is a very macho sport and has traditionally had a very robust he-man, heterosexual image so it is really great that he has had the guts to be honest with himself and his fans. Hopefully this will ease the way for other gay and bisexual players to come out."

There was overwhelming support for Thomas on internet fan sites. Many said they were not surprised. In the Welsh rugby community, Thomas' sexuality has been the subject of gossip for more than a decade.

Yesterday Thomas received the full backing of both the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Cardiff.

"He is most probably one of the most popular players among his peers," said Roger Lewis, WRU group chief executive.

"While Gareth's private life is entirely irrelevant to his career as an international sportsman it would be remiss of the WRU not to remind him of the high esteem in which he is held in the game in Wales at a time when he has decided to bring such personal reflections to public notice."

Thomas said he decided to go public about his sexuality to "send a positive message" to other gay people, especially young people considering a career in sport.

He said he knew from the age of 16 or 17 that he was gay but could not accept it and feared his sexuality would affect his playing career.

Thomas, who said he was never attracted to a teammate, said rugby was his "saviour" as it allowed him to escape from his personal confusion.

But he realised in 2006 that he could no longer live a lie. He told his wife, Jemma, that he was gay and felt as if his life was "falling apart" as his four-year marriage broke down. He recalled how he broke down in tears in the changing rooms of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, after playing for Wales in November 2006 and confided his secret to coach Scott Johnson. Thomas said: "After keeping it secret for so long, I felt a huge rush of relief. Scott said: 'Right, I've got to speak now to three or four players in the Welsh team because you need the boys to surround you and support you. You can't cope with this on your own,' and he was right.

"He told two of my teammates, Stephen Jones and Martyn Williams, and as I sat in the bar waiting for them, I was absolutely terrified, wondering what they were going to say. But they came in, patted me on the back and said: 'We don't care. Why didn't you tell us before?"'

He admitted cheating on Jemma with male partners and said he considered suicide as he felt so "horrible and guilty".

Thomas' decision to come out as a gay man is not unprecedented. Earlier this year Irish hurling star Donal Og Cusack, 32, announced he was gay. Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens came out in 2007. The same year, after his retirement from the US NBA basketball league, John Amaechi confirmed that he was gay.

However, homosexuality is still considered taboo in many sports.

Tatchell drew a comparison between rugby and soccer. "It is interesting that a couple of rugby and ex-rugby players have come out in recent years but still not a single professional football player," Tatchell said.

"However, given there are 500 professional football players, statistically about 50 of them are probably gay or bisexual yet none has felt able to be open about their sexuality. Quite a few fear negative reactions from teammates and fans and others are anxious they might lose sponsorship."

Observer