Rugby: Owens considered chemical castration

Nigel Owens took charge of the Rugby World Cup final between the All Blacks and Australia. Photo / Getty

The world's top rugby referee, Nigel Owens, seriously considered chemical castration if it would "get rid" of him being gay.

The Welshman, who refereed the World Cup final, came out as gay in 2007. In an interview with CNN he talked about how his sexuality left him so uncomfortable and looked into ways to alter it.

"I didn't want to be gay," Owens told CNN. "I actually went to the doctor at one stage to see if I could be chemically castrated in any way, if it would get rid of me being gay.

"Looking back at that it was a horrific thing that one would have to do but that's what I was going through at the time.

"It was only when my mum came to see me in hospital when I tried to take my own life and she told me: 'If you try to do anything like this again then you take me and Dad with you because we don't want to live our lives without you.'

"I was an only child. I sat up in bed that night and I cried. I thought to myself that I need to grow up here. That's when I accepted who I was and that was the biggest challenge of my life over with.

"A lot of people are struggling with who they are. They can't tell other people they're gay because they're fighting it themselves. That's one of the reasons a lot of people are not out in sport yet."

Owens is still subject to prejudice and has been a victim of internet trolling but believes rugby is ahead of other sports in terms of acceptance of homosexuality. Former Wales fullback Gareth Thomas was the first professional player to come out in 2009.

"Everybody knows who I am as far as my sexuality is concerned and when everybody at the World Rugby awards stands up and applauds me that says a lot.

"Rugby has led the way here and shown to people you can be who you are. I've proved that. Gareth Thomas has shown that as well.

"Some people have said that rugby isn't safe but I think rugby has proved that it's safe to be who you are.

"It annoys me sometimes when people say rugby is homophobic. Things have changed without a shadow of a doubt.
"The diversity in rugby is there for everyone. That's why I've said
many times, it's not only the greatest team sport in the world on the field, in my view, but the greatest team sport off the field too."