England Sevens international and Ealing Trailfinders player Sam Stanley has become the first rugby union pro to publicly come out as gay.
Twenty-three-year-old Stanley, playing for the west London club this season, is the nephew of New Zealand's 1987 World Cup-winning centre Joe Stanley, while his brother Mike is in Samoa's squad for the upcoming World Cup. He also has two professional rugby union player cousins.
"I was 10 or 11 when I realised I was different to my friends," Stanley told the Sunday Times.
"I didn't want to accept it – I felt being different wasn't right. I had a girlfriend and I was thinking that, like some people say, maybe it is a phase."
Stanley's decision to make his sexuality public comes after Batley Bulldogs prop Keegan Hirst last month became the first rugby league player to openly come out as gay.
Cross-code player Gareth Thomas was the first openly homosexual rugby star, coming out in 2009. Batley Bulldogs prop Keegan Hirst last month became the first rugby league player to openly discuss his homosexuality.
Stanley added: "Millions of people are in the situation, even people who […] are still married but are gay. They cannot accept it themselves.
"It is going to be an issue until more people and athletes come out, until it is not an issue at all. It might take years but hopefully lots of people will find the courage."
The player's family, friends and supporters took to social media to congratulate him in the hours after the news broke.
"So proud of my little brother," tweeted Mike Stanley. "Not easy in this day's society! Love you uce [Samoan slang for 'brother'], be proud of who you are."
Newcastle player Marcus Watson wrote: "Hell of a boy! All proud of you and I know you are too."
And Ben Cohen, chairman of the anti-homophobia and bullying StandUp Foundation, wrote: "Very proud of my buddy @Stanley_13 today!!! What a journey."
