Tag: rugby players

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English Rugby Star Keegan Hirst Comes Out As Gay

Keegan Hirst, 27 year old Rugby League player, has become the first English professional in the sport to come out.

From the Mirror:

Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Mirror, the dad of two tells of the moment he finally found the words to explain to his wife the reason they could no longer be together.

And he talks emotionally of the support he got, not only from her but also from his rugby team-mates.

The 6ft 4in captain of West ­Yorkshire side Batley Bulldogs said: “At first I couldn’t even say ‘I’m gay’ in my head, let alone out loud.

“Now I feel like I’m letting out a long breath that I’ve held in for a long time.”

Speaking for the first time about coming to terms with being gay, Keegan adds: “I had a wife and kids. I’ve been a builder, doorman, worked in factories – I play rugby.

“I tick every macho box. How could I be gay? I’m from Batley for goodness sake. No one is gay in Batley.”

And he reveals: “The only time I felt free of the torment was when I stepped on the rugby pitch. Now I feel free.”

Later, Hirst tweeted out his thanks for the strong support he’s received today:

Congrats to Keegan for living his life openly and being authentic to himself.

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Italian Sports Magazine Features Kissing Gay Rugby Players

Italian magazine Sportweek is getting lots of attention this week by featuring a real-life gay rugby couple kissing on its cover.

The cover image, taken earlier this year at the Legends of Rugby event in Milan, is accompanied by the simple tag line: “Who’s Afraid of a Kiss?”

The couple featured on the cover, Giacomo and Stefano, are players for Free Rugby Roma, the first gay-friendly rugby team in Italy.

(h/t Towleroad)

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Rugby: The Crotch Grab Seen Round The World

Making the “viral video” rounds today – the “crotch grab” seen round the world. This brings new meaning to the term ‘contact sports.’

Rugby pro Korbin Sims’ casually grabbed fellow rugby pro Willie Mason’s crotch over the weekend, and that move is garnering more attention than any plays from their televised game.

During the second half of Manly’s game versus Newcastle, Mason’s was preparing to play the ball when the incident occurred.

You’ll note Mason doesn’t flinch, and he reportedly laughed about it later: ‘Offended? Please. I think it’s hilarious,’ Mason tells News.com.au. ‘It’s just two good teammates from the last three years having a good old … just having a good re-acquaintance.’

‘It was quite funny to me. He’s just a good young kid and I would hope that nothing is done because of it.”

I’m guessing Sims just wanted to know why Mason is called “Big Willie.” Now, he knows… LOL

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Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage – Gareth Thomas Watches His Life Unfold Onstage

Out rugby legend Gareth Thomas sees his life onstage in new play Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage

A new play based on the life of out Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas opened last night, produced by National Theatre Wales in Cardiff, Wales.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage tells the story of former captain “Alfie,” who won 100 caps for Wales before coming out as gay.

From the National Theatre Wales website:

“I was doing something nobody had done before, and if you’re the first to do something, you have to be prepared to take the sh*t for it.”

On the eve of one of the most important games of his career, Welsh rugby legend Gareth Thomas received a warning: The Sun newspaper was going to “out” him as gay.

This is the story of two Welsh names bruised, but not beaten, by media speculation; Gareth “Alfie” Thomas, 100 caps for Wales, once its captain, now the world’s most prominent gay sportsman; and his hometown, Bridgend.

Working with “Alfie” himself, and young people in Bridgend, two of the UK’s most exciting theatre companies – National Theatre Wales and Out of Joint – have teamed up to tell a great Welsh story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage runs at the Sherman Theatre until March 7th before touring in Aberystwyth, Bethesda, Aberdare and Bridgend.

In the clip below, Thomas watches a scene from the play which recreates the moment he told his wife he is gay.

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Rugby Legend Gareth Thomas On The Jonathan Ross Show

Gareth Thoms on The Jonathan Ross Show

Gareth Thomas, legendary rugby player who came out in 2009, has written a new autobiography, Proud.

Appearing on the Jonathan Ross Show, Thomas talked on his career and previous struggles with his sexuality.

‘I have won every trophy that I can ever dream of winning but when you affect somebody’s life, in a way that this person is going to have a life that they never thought they could have because of me, stupid old me, because of that they could do that, it’s amazing.

‘I didn’t come out because I wanted to be the first person to do it and I was going to be a trailblazer, I came out because I came to a crossroads of living or dying and that’s why I decided to come out, I wanted to live.’

Asked if marriage were in the near future for him and his partner, Ian Baum, Thomas replied:

‘We’ve known each other for two years and we’ve been living together for a year and I am very much in love with Ian, I’m extremely happy and I’m sure one day down the line [we might get married], we’re settling in but I definitely wouldn’t write it off because I really feel I’ve found my soulmate and the person I can spend the rest of my life with, I really do.’

Just in case I needed to remind you 🙂

(via Gay Star News)

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News Round-up for September 20, 2014

Some news stories you may have missed, starting with the very hunky and handsome rugby playing Burgess brothers of Australia pictured above.  From left to right: George, Luke, Sam and Thomas.  Lots more Instagrams of the brothers at the link.

• Clay Aiken, running for office in North Carolina, says the folks whose naked pics got shared on the internet  “deserve exactly what they get”

• Over 50 Texans working in law enforcement file a brief in support of same-sex marriage in Texas

• The story of Vivian Boyack and Nonie Dubes’ getting married will move you. Grab a tissue and read this love story 72 years in the making.

• College football player Conner Mertens reflects on life a year after coming out

• Nick Jonas says he wants to embrace the gay community “with open arms.”  I don’t think that will be a problem for the community.

And don’t we need at least one more of the Brothers Burgess?

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Final day at the 2014 Bingham Cup

Hunky rugby butts at the 2014 Bingham Cup
Rugby players warm up for the 2014 Bingham Cup

The three day Bingham Cup ended with a lop-sided victory by the Sydney Convicts over the Brisbane Hustlers 31-0.

With 24 teams from 15 countries, this was the first time since 2002 the biennial event was held in the southern hemisphere.

The competition came a week after the Australian Rugby Union announced news of an inclusion policy to combat homophobia in the sport.

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Rugby stars Sam and Thomas Burgess on Homophobia

Rugby league stars and brothers Sam and Thomas Burgess encourage you to help end homophobia in sport. Says brother Sam:

“I don’t see why there should be any discrimination about color, sexuality, your heritage or where you’re from.”

“Sport is a great thing, and it brings people from all different aspects of life together, so why should your sexuality be a problem? The only way we are going to understand the issue is if people get out there and tell their story so we can help fix it.”

Take a ten minute survey that’s part of the world’s first study on homophobia in sport at www.outonthefields.com.