It shouldn't need a thread, but ....

[fishfoodie]

You'd hope that as a society we'd reached the point where people don't actually care about their team mates sexuality, but it obviously still takes courage to do so, & it says a lot about Leinster Rugby, & Nicks teammates that he was able to take what is still a big step !

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy has spoken publicly about his sexuality for the first time, the 27-year-old saying he contemplated retiring from rugby before coming out as gay.

In an interview on the Leinster Rugby website, McCarthy detailed how he came out to his team-mates in January having discussed the subject with coaches Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster in November.

The scrum-half spoke of his apprehension prior to coming out to his team-mates but said his experience afterwards had been "entirely positive", hailing his coaches and teammates for their support.

"I came out to my team-mates in January and I was obviously pretty nervous about doing so," said McCarthy.

"But I'm really happy that I did it. I struggled with coming out for a while and it was starting to impact on me and my happiness so it was the right decision.

"It affected me so much that I agonised over my future and contemplated walking away from rugby altogether because I just didn’t think I could come out while playing rugby.

"But, I spoke to Leo (Cullen) and Stuart (Lancaster) last November and the support that I got from them straight away was unbelievable. They helped and guided me over the months that followed so that I felt more comfortable to come out to the group.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2022/062 ... ut-as-gay/

[Kawazaki]

A gay scrumhalf. Does he put it in straight?

[Niegs]

A gay scrumhalf. Does he put it in straight?

I suppose he’s not a fan of the box kick

[Guy Smiley]

A gay scrumhalf. Does he put it in straight?

It does need a thread.

[Slick]

Well done him.

I’d love rugby to lead the way on this and be the first sport where gay folk can just be completely comfortable.

[laurent]

It's a good sign, I do agree that it should not be a thread however seeing how backward our society seem to look in times of crisis, this is not the last time it will be thread/news worthy.

Good to see the positive reactions in the Leinster camp.

[SaintK]

Kings Cross Steelers say: Hi Nick, come and play for us if you're ever in London!!
Not quite at the same level mind

[Gumboot]

It's a threadworthy topic until it isn't. Which can't come soon enough.

[Slick]

It's a threadworthy topic until it isn't. Which can't come soon enough.

[ASMO]

I agree, shouldnt really need a thread, a pro rugby player who just happens to be gay, so what, move on, his sexuality has fuck all to do with his ability as a player or his worth as a person.

[Slick]

Well done him.

I’d love rugby to lead the way on this and be the first sport where gay folk can just be completely comfortable.

I think that is already the case. We are nice lads mostly and don't care for all that stuff. Nobody in Leinster batted an eyelid about it and nobody would have expected them to. If he said he was gay 20 years ago maybe. Funnily enough the slight criticism Jack Dunne gets is he is gay 24/7. He is nothing else and I think that is probably what we need to get past

I think that probably a bit over optimistic but generally true in our social circles - most of my gay mates I've met either through rugby or because they are into their rugby.

20 years ago was certainly different. Our coach was openly gay amongst the players (17/18) but kept it quiet outwith that. Inevitably rumours went about and the reaction from some of the dads and older members of the club was horrendous - at one point he had to doorstep a dad who was spreading rumours he was trying to fuck us all. I still think there would be a fair bit of that lurking under the surface.

[Line6 HXFX]

It's all about changing rooms really. You wouldn't want your team mates to know in case they think you are staring at their arses in th3 showers and changing rooms.

If I was a lady lesbian, speaking as a male lesbian, I would be in heaven, being able to walk amongst naked chick's in the showers.

It's all about the showers and changing rooms. If there was a changing room for the lesboxes etc then...o.k...that still probably wouldn't work as they would still be in there oooogling other women...

Shower stalls.
Private changing rooms.

There you go.
Do that, let everyone come out.
Problem sorted.

[Slick]

It's all about changing rooms really. You wouldn't want your team mates to know in case they think you are staring at their arses in th3 showers and changing rooms.

If I was a lady lesbian, speaking as a male lesbian, I would be in heaven, being able to walk amongst naked chick's in the showers.

It's all about the showers and changing rooms. If there was a changing room for the lesboxes etc then...o.k...that still probably wouldn't work as they would still be in there oooogling other women...

Shower stalls.
Private changing rooms.

There you go.
Do that, let everyone come out.
Problem sorted.

Twat

[FalseBayFC]

Well done him.

I’d love rugby to lead the way on this and be the first sport where gay folk can just be completely comfortable.

I think that is already the case. We are nice lads mostly and don't care for all that stuff. Nobody in Leinster batted an eyelid about it and nobody would have expected them to. If he said he was gay 20 years ago maybe. Funnily enough the slight criticism Jack Dunne gets is he is gay 24/7. He is nothing else and I think that is probably what we need to get past

Its not so much the players as the fans. Especially social media anonymous twats. There is a Stormers male cheerleader who dances before the games. He's a fairly solid looking unit with some great moves. But the comments on twitter are often pretty blatantly homophobic. I must confess to have been a casual homophobic for many years. My gen-Z daughters brought me around though. What many of us Gen-X and boomer types see/saw as pub banter is usually pretty hurtful to the target.

[SaintK]

It's all about changing rooms really. You wouldn't want your team mates to know in case they think you are staring at their arses in th3 showers and changing rooms.

If I was a lady lesbian, speaking as a male lesbian, I would be in heaven, being able to walk amongst naked chick's in the showers.

It's all about the showers and changing rooms. If there was a changing room for the lesboxes etc then...o.k...that still probably wouldn't work as they would still be in there oooogling other women...

Shower stalls.
Private changing rooms.

There you go.
Do that, let everyone come out.
Problem sorted.

Do fuck off and when you've fucked off just fuck off some more you moron!

[sockwithaticket]

It's a threadworthy topic until it isn't. Which can't come soon enough.

Given what seem to be prevailing attitudes in the UK I'm inclined to think we're already there really. Anyone who's not yet ok with homosexuality or at least at the point where they don't care probably isn't going to be no matter how many announcements and awareness campaigns (like the Prem's Raindbow Laces) there are. Maybe things are a bit different on the Emerald Isle.

[ASMO]

It's all about changing rooms really. You wouldn't want your team mates to know in case they think you are staring at their arses in th3 showers and changing rooms.

If I was a lady lesbian, speaking as a male lesbian, I would be in heaven, being able to walk amongst naked chick's in the showers.

It's all about the showers and changing rooms. If there was a changing room for the lesboxes etc then...o.k...that still probably wouldn't work as they would still be in there oooogling other women...

Shower stalls.
Private changing rooms.

There you go.
Do that, let everyone come out.
Problem sorted.

Actually eradicating dumb thinking like yours is the way to get the problem sorted.

[FalseBayFC]

It's all about changing rooms really. You wouldn't want your team mates to know in case they think you are staring at their arses in th3 showers and changing rooms.

If I was a lady lesbian, speaking as a male lesbian, I would be in heaven, being able to walk amongst naked chick's in the showers.

It's all about the showers and changing rooms. If there was a changing room for the lesboxes etc then...o.k...that still probably wouldn't work as they would still be in there oooogling other women...

Shower stalls.
Private changing rooms.

There you go.
Do that, let everyone come out.
Problem sorted.

Do fuck off and when you've fucked off just fuck off some more you moron!

Tired shtick. Like someone trying to post as a Viz caricature.

[assfly]

Good on him. It's great for the game if more feel comfortable to do so.
Now on with the rugby.

[Line6 HXFX]

Do you dipshits actually know what you are upset about at this point?

[Uncle fester]

All in Leinster I note [/jest]

[Enzedder]

Do you dipshits actually know what you are upset about at this point?

Just commentating that you have funny trains of thought.

[Chilli]

Should it matter?

He is just a rugby player.