Ex-Lion Gareth Thomas reveals he is gay
Herman van Rumpy (President)
Ex-Lion Gareth Thomas reveals he is gay
Thomas won 100 caps for Wales and three caps for the Lions
Former Wales and Lions captain Gareth Thomas has broken one of the
major taboos that surround sport by revealing he is gay.
The 35-year-old joins stars like basketball's John Amaechi and
hurling's Donal Og Cusack who have come out.
"Just because you are gay, it doesn't mean you fancy every man who
walks the planet," Thomas told the Daily Mail.
"I don't want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player
first and foremost. I am a man."
Cardiff Blues utility back Thomas said he had been through "all sorts
of emotions" over the issue, since first knowing he was gay in his
late teens.
He revealed that he was "anxious about people's reactions" to him
being gay and that he felt he could not have come out earlier in his
rugby career.
"It is the toughest, most macho of male sports, and with that comes an
image," Thomas said.
"In many ways, it is barbaric, and I could never have come out without
first establishing myself and earning respect as a player.
'Time is right'
"Rugby was my passion, my whole life, and I wasn't prepared to risk
losing everything I loved."
Thomas went on to win 100 caps for Wales and three for the Lions, and
has played for Bridgend and Cardiff and spent three years in France
with Toulouse, before returning to south Wales in 2007.
He feels attitudes have changed and the time is right for sport to
start accepting openly gay people in the same way other professions
have in recent years.
"I just happen to be gay," he added. "It's irrelevant.
"What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do
with what I have achieved in rugby.
"It's pretty tough for me being the only international rugby player
prepared to break the taboo.
"Statistically I can't be the only one, but I'm not aware of any other
gay player still in the game.
"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 retired from international duty after captaining Wales' exit
from the 2007 World Cup.
But he admitted it was on Wales duty at an earlier time when he first
broke the news to former Wales caretaker coach Scott Johnson over his
sexuality and the break-up of his marriage to his wife Jemma.
"My life seemed to be falling apart," he added. "Jemma and I were
splitting up, and I was scared of the future and being single again as
a gay man.
Rush of relief
"Somehow, the coach had guessed," said Thomas. "He took me out of the
team room to the medical room, locked the door and I told him
everything.
"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 team-mates, 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?'
"Two of my best mates in rugby didn't even blink an eyelid."
But Thomas said one of his lowest points was cheating on Jemma, which
drove him to the edge.
"Sometimes I felt so alone and depressed," he added.
"I used to go to the cliffs overlooking the beach near our cottage in
St Brides Major and just think about jumping off and ending it all."
viper
"Herman van Rumpy (President)" <michael...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4ff12c2f-9203-46cc...@m3g2000yqf.googlegroups.com...
Is he the only one in the village ?
Viper
Herman van Rumpy (President)
> "Herman van Rumpy (President)" <michaelnewp...@yahoo.com> wrote in messagenews:4ff12c2f-9203-46cc...@m3g2000yqf.googlegroups.com...
nono...there is Road_Hog
coo...@nospam.verizon.net
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8421956.stm
>
> Ex-Lion Gareth Thomas reveals he is gay
The rugby world always new Gareth was tough. Now the world also knows
how brave he is too. Takes a lot of courage to come forth as he has. Its
arguable that it shoudln't take courage - but given the
quasi-neandrethal sensibilities of a lot of blokes in sport, such things
won't come easy.
Good on yuh, Alfie
sfisher
Yeah all we need is for him and Nigel Owens to get it together, then
Gavin and Charlotte will suddenly get a whole lot less embarassing!
MYF
Am sure his team mates will get showered quicker than usual in the
future, especially the homeaphobs..