Watching this video I can just feel the weight he must have had on his shoulders. When your are in a position where everyone looks up to you and depends on you, coming out can be very difficult, especially when your job is to be around other men and you don’t know how they will react.

When he finally had a moment where he broke down and felt lost he was brave and and spoke up to his coach and team mates. Their reaction was amazing. The pressure that Gareth Thomas put on himself was lifted by their reaction. All they cared about was that he was ok and that he could continue to play the sport he loved. They looked at his sexuality as just a part of him and gave him a pat on the back and said let’s play rugby. He was surprised and happy that they didn’t let his sexuality affect their relationship as a team, as they are so close like family and they stuck by his side. Thomas came out as gay in December 2009 and the following year he was voted “most influential gay person” in the UK in the IoS Pink List and also received Stonewall’s Hero of the Year award. When he came out as gay he was the first openly gay professional rugby union player.

In an interview with the Daily Mail he said, “I don’t want to be known as a gay rugby player. I am a rugby player, first and foremost I am a man.”

He gives back by answering phones for ChildLine. It is a place where youth can call in with issues and talk to someone, telephone counselling service for children and young people. Thomas said, “I don’t know if my life is going to be easier because I’m out, but if it helps someone else, if it makes one young lad pick up the phone to ChildLine, then it will have been worth it.”

Gareth Thomas was born in Sarn near Bridgend in Wales on July 25, 1974. Also known by his nicknamed “Alfie”, he played for Wales in both rugby union (Position: Fullback, Wing, Centre) and rugby league (Position: Wing, Centre, Second row) and has since retired.