Tag: rugby players

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Out Rugby Player Keegan Hirst: I’ve Spoken To Gay Athletes Who Want To Come Out

Speaking to Gay Star News, rugby Keegan Hirst says since he came out in 2015, he’s counseled several closeted athletes from different sports who would like to come out but don’t feel ready.

Have you spoken to any closeted gay sportsmen?

I’ve had conversations with guys, and I’ve given advice. I’ve said how I found it. There’s been a few guys from a few different sports.

Do you think there is more pressure on people to stay closeted in sports?

I think it is. It’s a lot more focused on football players, probably because there’s a lot more money involved. While it shouldn’t matter who you date, it does. There’s also a big following in football. There’s a big call for people to come out, but it’s a personal thing. We’ve got to make it a good environment for someone to come out before it can actually happen.

What advice have you given to sportsmen in the closet?

You’ve just got to be in the right frame of mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re a sporstman or Joe Bloggs who works 9 to 5. You’ve got to be comfortable in your own skin. And have a good people around you. Do it when you’re ready to do it.

The woofy 29-year-old will soon make his debut for Wakefield Trinity, when he’ll become the first openly gay English rugby player since Gareth Thomas to play Super League.

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Video: “Gareth Thomas: Never Alone” By Guinness

A new web campaign by Guinness Beer, “Made of More,” features rugby champ Gareth Thomas as he recounts the chapter in his life when he faced coming out, moving from darkness to light.

The theme of the campaign is centered on the idea that “the choices we make reveal the true nature of our character.”

Clip description:

Gareth Thomas: Never Alone tells the story of how the former Wales captain’s greatest fear wasn’t the opposition he faced on the pitch, but the fear of rejection from everything he had known, because of his sexuality.

The film celebrates the courage of Gareth, and most importantly, the empathy shown by his teammates when he came out, showing that even when he felt he was on his own and at his lowest point, he was always part of a team.

There’s also a one minute version of the spot.

In 2013, Guinness famously released a video for the “Made of More” campaign featuring six men playing basketball in wheelchairs. Only at the end of the game does the viewer realize only one man is confined to his chair – his five friends used the wheelchairs to even the playing field, so he could be included. Pretty powerful. You can view that clip here.

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Sam Stanley, Professional Union Rugby Player, Comes Out

Sam Stanley, a 23 year old English professional union player from Essex, comes out as gay in an interview with the Sunday Times.

Stanley told the Sunday Times, “You are so worried about what people will think, and I thought I couldn’t be a macho rugby player the way I was, and there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life.”

Stanley follows Batley Bulldogs’ Keegan Hirst, who recently came out as gay. At the time, Stanley publicly praised Hirst via Twitter.

Hirst became the first openly gay rugby league player to take part in a game earlier in August.

Additionally, rugby star Gareth Thomas came out in 2009.

Congrats Sam! Good on you! Visibility is what helps the rest of the world see we’re like everyone else. Only maybe a little more fabulous.

I know we’ll be seeing a lot more of Stanley in the coming weeks.

And speaking of “seeing more” – check out Stanley’s Instagram video playing guitar and singing (naked?) James Bay’s “When We Were On Fire:”

A video posted by Sam Stanley (@samstannerz) on Jul 16, 2015 at 11:11am PDT

A photo posted by Sam Stanley (@samstannerz) on Jul 26, 2015 at 8:00am PDT

Sam Stanley (L) with rugby champion & LGBT ally Ben Cohen (R)
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Over The Top Air Safety Video Featuring Rugby’s Hunky All Blacks

Now you know we’re all about hunky rugby players here at The Randy Report 🙂

From the clip description:

At Air New Zealand, we’re #CrazyAboutRugby. So for our latest inflight safety video, we called upon some very special Men In Black to brief our passengers.

Created in partnership with Sony Pictures, the All Blacks take on a new challenge. Buckle up as our boys in black take you through the ins and outs of safety with the help of Stan Walker, Rip Torn and Frank the Pug. Plus, keep an eye out for some inter-galactic rugby cameos from David Campese, Martin Johnson and Agustin Pichot.