First openly gay player Keegan Hirst 'overwhelmed and humbled' by support

Hirst, 27, came out in an interview with the Sunday Mirror at the weekend - and on Monday he told the BBC that he had been staggered by the level of support he had received from fans and fellow players.

"There's not any gay people in Batley, not that I know of," he told the BBC.

"I thought it would be a bit of a taboo, a bit of an issue, but it wasn't at all.

"There was nothing but support and well-wishers yesterday at the ground from fans, players, the club. And then social media's gone mad. It's really overwhelming and quite humbling.

"You expect a bit of stick from fans, from players - you get it whether you're gay or not - but there wasn't any of that."

Hirst also spoke to ITV on Tuesday morning, and talked about his hope that one day a story like his would not even be newsworthy.

"I suppose you always think the worst, but it's been really good, really positive," he said.

"I don't think there will be a Spartacus-like thing where everyone comes out and says 'I'm gay', but if a couple of people do then it's a good thing.

"That will help normalise it, and hopefully one day a sportsman who's playing, being gay, won't be news."

In his interview with the Mirror he spoke about the inner torment he felt trying to come to terms with his sexuality.

"At first I couldn't even say 'I'm gay' in my head, let alone out loud," the father of two said. "Now I feel like I'm letting out a long breath that I've held in for a long time."

Cross-code international Gareth Thomas was previously the only openly homosexual rugby player after he came out whilst playing for rugby union side Cardiff Blues in 2009.

Thomas, who captained Wales and the British and Irish Lions, went on to play for league side Crusaders before retiring, but Hirst is the first player to come out publicly whilst playing the 13-man game.

Hirst, who recently told his wife to alleviate guilt she felt about their marriage breaking down, admitted that at his lowest ebb he considered taking his own life.

"On the worst days I'd think, 'I can't do this, I'd rather be dead than for it all to come out'," he added. "Thankfully I have friends and family I love and was able to talk myself out of it."

Hirst knows he may face taunts from opposition fans and players as a result of being open and honest, but he will not let it affect him.

"I'm comfortable in my own skin, probably for the first time ever," he said. "I'm not withholding anything and there's not that sense of dread. I suppose the stereotype of a rugby player is, you're supposed to be tough, you're supposed to be macho.

"I thought I'd be disowned by friends and family but I haven't been. People keep saying I'm brave - I don't feel brave. I'm just talking about me."