Sam Stanley becomes first openly gay English rugby union player

Sam Stanley has become the first professional English rugby player to come out as gay.

Sam Stanley has become the first professional English rugby union player to come out as gay. 

Stanley, 23, broke the news in an interview with The Sunday Timespublished this weekend. His revelation comes two weeks after English rugby league player Keegan Hirst came out as gay. 

Stanley told the Times that he contemplated suicide as a teen because he feared his sexuality could jeopardize his rugby career. 

“I was standing on a bridge about four or five years ago, overlooking a motorway in Essex,” Stanley said. “However, looking back, the idea that I would jump was ridiculous but it was as if I was thinking that I could get rid of the pain in one go. 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.”

Several of Stanley’s teammates and opponents offered their support on Twitter.

👏🏾👏🏾 @Stanley_13 hell of a boy! All proud of you and I know you are too http://t.co/MSqjWViyCH

— Marcus Watson (@MarcusWatson11) August 30, 2015

Proud of @Stanley_13 showing a huge amount of courage here! Top bloke but an even better mate 👊🏼. Great work pal! http://t.co/KY3O7HNzWo

— Ben Spencer (@Ben_spencer9) August 30, 2015

Well done to @Stanley_13 hope all's well! I'm sure you'll have all the support you need from your team mates and everybody else.

— Keegan Hirst (@KeeganHirst) August 30, 2015

Proud of you @Stanley_13 looking forward to having a run around in the champ this year against you pal. What a hero. #classof08

— Jake Sharp (@jake_sharp) August 30, 2015

@Stanley_13 some show of strength from you my man good luck this season catch you in a couple weeks #nostepping #please

— Mark Bright (@MarkBright8) August 30, 2015

Huge respect @Stanley_13 takes a lot of courage. Top man, class player!! 💪🏼

— Matthew Kvesic (@mattkvesic) August 30, 2015

Stanley currently plays for Ealing Trailfinders in England’s second tier. He previously played for Saracens, in the English Premiership, and was a member of the team that won the 2010 championship. He has also played rugby sevens internationally for England. 

Prior to Stanley and Hirst, former Welsh international Gareth Thomas was the world’s only openly gay professional rugby player. Thomas came out in 2009, two years after Nigel Owens, one of the game’s top referees, came out. 

- Dan Gartland