First All Black player to publicly e out as gay tells his story

Contents:

• FIRST ALL BLACK PLAYER TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY TELLS HIS STORY
• FIRST ALL BLACK NEW ZEALAND PLAYER OUT AS OPENLY GAY
• 'RUGBY HAS YOUR BACK' - JOHNSTONE EMBRACED AS FIRST GAY ALL BLACK
• RUGBY STARS REACT AS CAMPBELL JOHNSTONE BE FIRST OPENLY GAY ALL BLACK
• AT LAST, A GAY ALL BLACK

FIRST ALL BLACK PLAYER TO PUBLICLY E OUT AS GAY TELLS HIS STORY

Today is a signifint day, bee for the first time an All Black is puttg on the rerd publicly that he’s gay. The prop played three All Black Tt match 2005 and ma 72 appearanc for Canterbury and 38 for the told his fay and close iends he was gay but tonight he’s openg up publicly the hope will help other players.

FIRST ALL BLACK NEW ZEALAND PLAYER OUT AS OPENLY GAY

"If I n be the first All Black that out as gay and take away the prsure and stigma surroundg the issue n actually help other people, " Johnstone said. Sign up to our ee sport newsletter for all the latt news on everythg om cyclg to boxgSign up to our ee sport email for all the latt newsFormer New Zealand prop Campbell Johnstone has bee the first All Black to e out as gay, sayg on a televisn programme he had been “livg a lie” and leadg “a double life” before acknowledgg his sexualy. “If I n be the first All Black that out as gay and take away the prsure and stigma surroundg the issue n actually help other people, ” Johnstone said.

'RUGBY HAS YOUR BACK' - JOHNSTONE EMBRACED AS FIRST GAY ALL BLACK

We want to be clear, no matter who you love, gby has your back, ” Robson Zealand Sports Mister and former puty Prime Mister Grant Robertson, who is gay, thanked Johnstone for “blazg this trail” and said his announcement was “a big moment”.

RUGBY STARS REACT AS CAMPBELL JOHNSTONE BE FIRST OPENLY GAY ALL BLACK

Campbell Johnstone has been praised for his bravery after makg headl around the world for g out as the first openly gay All Black.

AT LAST, A GAY ALL BLACK

"As a young guy, a gay guy, growg up playg gby, I probably uld never image there would be a gay, out there All Black and Campbell has shown such extraordary urage and bravery. "I thk this is the kd of thg that will, I hope, spire younger, gay gby players - even on that are active now - to know that they n e out, affirm who they are, and they'll be role mols as well. (Source: Photosport)"I'm probably like a lot of gay guys who played gby when I was younger; I gave the game away partly bee I didn't like some of the culture that was around the game but I subsequently me back to play for a gay gby team which I was lucky to do.