Gareth Thomas hopes to make a difference to others struggling with their sexuality after disclosing he is gay.
Wales' most capped player grateful for "amazing response"
Former Wales and Lions captain Gareth Thomas hopes to make a difference to others struggling with their sexuality after disclosing he is gay.
The Cardiff Blues full-back said he was grateful for the "amazing response" he had received after describing his fears of how people would react.
Thomas, Wales' most capped player, said: "I just want to thank everyone for the amazing response I have received, on behalf of me, my family and friends.
"I hope that by saying this I can make a big difference to others in my situation.
"But for now, I just want to focus on being a rugby player and beating my old club Toulouse (in Saturday's Heineken Cup fixture)."
Struggle
Earlier, in an interview with the
Daily Mail, Thomas said the secret of his sexuality was like a "ticking bomb" which he had tried to suppress.
"I just couldn't ignore it any more," he told the newspaper.
He said he realised in summer 2006 that he could no longer live a lie.
He told his wife, Jemma, that he was gay and felt like his life was "falling apart" as his four-year marriage broke down.
The 6ft 3in, 16-stone rugby star said he broke down in tears in the changing rooms of the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, after playing for Wales in November 2006 and later told his secret to coach Scott Johnson.
Thomas said he was frightened about how his team-mates would react but said nobody distanced themselves from him and his family have also stood by him.
The player has received the full backing of both the Welsh Rugby Union and the Cardiff Blues.
Irrelevant
Roger Lewis, WRU group chief executive, said: "Gareth Thomas is one of Welsh rugby's outstanding players, a former captain, he holds the national appearance record (100 caps) and has scored 40 tries for his country.
"He was at the helm for the 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam, Wales' first clean sweep in the annual competition since 1978, and also captained the British and Irish Lions during their summer tour of New Zealand earlier that year.
"Gareth is a rugby leader and also a man of great humour. He is most probably one of the most popular players amongst his peers. He has been an inspiration to generations of rugby followers and continues to play at the top level of the game with the Cardiff Blues.
"Just as we support Gareth at this time that stance will remain consistent for any player.
"Whilst Gareth's private life is entirely irrelevant to his career as an international sportsman it would be remiss of the WRU not to remind him of the high esteem in which he is held in the game in Wales at a time when he has decided to bring such personal reflections to public notice."
