Batley Bulldogs captain Keegan Hirst was cheered to the rafters – just hours after he became the first openly gay British rugby league star.
The 6ft 4ins married dad-of-two looked visibly moved by the support he had received as he left the pitch at Batley’s Fox’s Biscuits Stadium following his side’s narrow 28-22 loss to local rivals Dewsbury Rams in the Kingstone Press Championship Shield.
Speaking after the match, Keegan said: “It’s been a really positive and humbling thing. I’ve had people coming up to me all day telling me how brave I’ve been and how I’ve done well and they’re proud of me. Twitter and Facebook have gone through the roof – it’s been mad. The reaction has been a lot bigger than I expected, but in a good way.
“Everyone has been really sound. I’m just glad that everyone knows the truth now. I can’t thank everyone enough. They’ve been amazing.”
Keegan’s teammates publicly backed him on Twitter.
Prop Alex Rowe, 30, wrote: “Glad one of my best mates Keegan Hirst has told world. Massive support for him today. Amazing lad/dad and all round great lad. #truegent.”
Winger Wayne Reittie, 27, said: “Nothing but respect for my boy Keegan Hirst.”
Keegan, 27, also received thousands of messages of support from fans and celebrities on social media and his name was trending on Twitter. Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton wrote on the site: “Respect to @KeeganHirst. A mountain of a man, in stature and in courage. You’ve said it now, time to get on with your life. Well done, Sir x”.
Alex Walmsley, the St Helens prop, tweeted: “Nothing but respect for my good friend and old front row partner Keegan Hirst.”
Keegan recently told his wife to alleviate any guilt she had felt about their marriage break-up.
Batley fan Wayne Armstrong, 34, said: “I read the story - it was good. It’s good to see the positive reaction since this morning because it can’t have been easy to tell people after all that time. The lad deserves a lot of respect for that.”
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney said: “As vice chair of @UKParliamentRL proud of @KeeganHirst & of the #rugbyleague community who are giving him so much support & respect.”
Val Roberts, 62, from Morley, Leeds, said: “It brought a year to my eye reading how he had been feeling. Hopefully anyone else feeling the same will be able to come out like Keegan has and tell people how they really feel.
“No-one here will think any different of him. He was a good player last week and he’s a good player today and he’s a nice lad too by all accounts.”
Keegan’s revelation came six years after Welsh rugby union star Gareth Thomas came out. He later played League for Crusaders.
In 1995, Australian rugby league player Ian Roberts became the first high-profile gay player in the world to reveal his sexuality.
Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by a National Football League side, also made the headlines yesterday when he announced that he was “stepping away from the game” after he “became concerned with my mental health”. He had recently signed a two-year deal with Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League.
