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cp_in__play-news-short-form EhtER lXUL6 cp_in--ctom-size" aria-hidn="false"><svg width="15" height="20" viewBox="0 0 15 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-label="Play Brightve vio" role="img"><tle>Play Brightve vio</tle><path fill-le="evenodd" clip-le="evenodd" d="M0.542124 0.110987C0.875033 -0.0604726 1.27584 -0.031568 1.5807 0.185886L14.5807 9.45861C14.8479 9.6492 15.0046 9.95875 14.9999 10.2869C14.9952 10.6151 14.8299 10.9201 14.5574 11.103L1.55738 19.8303C1.2507 20.0361 0.85551 20.0562 0.529562 19.8824C0.203615 19.7087 0 19.3694 0 19V1C0 0.625535 0.209216 0.282447 0.542124 0.110987Z" fill="whe"/></svg></i></button></div><vio-js data-acunt="2821697655001" data-player="B1J9ApOVZ" data-embed="flt" ntrols="" data-vio-id="6310380739112" data-playlist-id="" data-applitn-id="" class="_4h-ua"></vio-js></div><ul class="xhBdb" data-ttid="list"><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Vio report by <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" href=" data-ttid="fecp-lk-anchor"><span class="n6NlI">Harry Horton</span></a></p></li></ul><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Rugby league's first openly gay player has reversed his cisn to qu the game after a group of Atralian players refed to wear a shirt promotg sexual equaly.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Keegan Hirst, a former Wakefield, Halifax and Batley player, hung up his boots 2020 – five years after beg the first Brish player to publicly e out.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">But he said he wanted to "do somethg" to tackle homophobia after <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2022-07-26/gby-league-players--stralia-to-boytt-key-match-over-gay-pri-jersey"><span class="n6NlI">a ntroversial prott by players om the Atralian Natnal Rugby League (NRL) team Manly Sea Eagl.</span></a></p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">They said they would boytt a key champnship match over their team's cisn to wear a gay pri jersey sportg rabow lours. </p><div class="qNUzV Z4snd" data-ttid="article-lk"><div class="-VoCt"><a class="WPcEk" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/lendar/2021-03-02/gby-league-referee-jam-child-opens-up-about-his-cisn-to-go-public-wh-his-sexualy">Rugby League referee on the reactn to gog public wh his sexualy</a><i class="cp_in cp_in__chevron cp_in--base uQW1m" aria-hidn="te"><svg xmlns=" width="12" height="20" viewBox="0 0 12 20" fill="none" role="img"> <path fill-le="evenodd" clip-le="evenodd" d="M0.256714 0.331044C0.626173 -0.0794661 1.25846 -0.112744 1.66897 0.256714L11.669 9.25671C11.8797 9.44635 12 9.71651 12 10C12 10.2835 11.8797 10.5537 11.669 10.7433L1.66897 19.7433C1.25846 20.1127 0.626173 20.0795 0.256714 19.669C-0.112744 19.2584 -0.0794661 18.6262 0.331044 18.2567L9.50515 10L0.331044 1.7433C-0.0794661 1.37384 -0.112744 0.741553 0.256714 0.331044Z" fill="#FFF"/> </svg></i></div></div><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><strong class="_1ATDh">'Progrs is really hard won'</strong></p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Hirst, 34, said: "Manly was the straw that broke the mel's back. I'd been um-g and ah-g about ... then I realised I'm dog all this talkg and actns speak lour than words.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"People boyttg playg bee of a rabow on a shirt – jt shows that progrs is really hard won. It's not permanent and reprentatn and visibily matter. So I uld s on the si and I be a mouthpiece all I want, but realistilly I n do somethg. </p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"I'm still a posn where I n put on my rabow lac, get the boots on, go out and be that reprentatn and role mol for people... 2022 shouldn't take all this uproar to put a jersey on wh a rabow."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Keegan, who is divorced wh children, played more than 300 tim before retirg, cludg Super League for Wakefield. He was playg for Halifax when he announced his retirement after the Covid panmic started and he beme "disillned" wh gby.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">Keegan Hirst played 66 tim for Wakefield Try<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">It followed homophobic remarks om the Atralian player Israel Fol.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Hirst said: "To be hont put me off gby a ltle b so I jt cid to distance myself om and I cid not to e back. </p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"The kids were gettg olr and I jt wanted to spend more time wh those guys and now they are pretty much teenagers and don't want to spend time wh me so 's opened the door to e back."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">He says he is "cent nick" and has re-signed for his home-town club, Batley Bulldogs.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"It would be nice to get that number up a b more so there's that, a b of personal pri, fishg on my terms rather than bee of Covid on a damp squib," he said</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">But the ma reason for Keegan's return is his aim to spire others, particularly young sportspeople who may hold back for fear of abe.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Who knows maybe there's some kid who watch this, who lov gby and thks I n be gay and play gby.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">He add: "I'm unr no illns I don't have a huge platform but 's jt about showg people that you n be gay and play a sport, you n be out and proud and play at a profsnal level." </p><hr/><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><strong class="_1ATDh">Want a quick and expert briefg on the biggt news stori? Listen to our latt podsts to fd out What You Need To Know.</strong></p><div class="_8xmX9 A8Lwr" data-ttid="embed-spreaker-playlist"><iame class="vWpZr" src=" tle="Podst playlist embed" loadg="lazy"></iame></div><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><span class="LjyUJ"></span></p></div><footer data-ttid="article-footer"><div class="cQTzz C04KI" data-ttid="tag-list"><ul class="fHh0w"><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/lendar"><span data-ttid="tag-text">Calendar</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/gby-league"><span data-ttid="tag-text">Rugby League</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/lgbt"><span data-ttid="tag-text">LGBT+</span></a></div></li><li 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first openly gay rugby player

Jaguars assistant Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach major Amerin men's pro sports to publicly e out as gay, tellg he ma the cisn bee he didn't want to hi who he is any longer.

Contents:

DISMANTLG STEREOTYP: 10 INSPIRG GAY RUGBY PLAYERS AND PERSONALI

There are many great gay profsnal gby players and personali. The players have bee a bean of light bee they overme the stereotyp. * first openly gay rugby player *

In light of recent ntroversy regardg homophobic slurs by Israel Fol, we thought we would she a light on 10 fluential gay gby personali.

The players have bee a bean of light bee they overme stereotyp and other challeng faced by homosexual athlet way too often. In this article, we’ll name ten of the most notable gay gby personali, analyze their acplishments, discs how they are shapg the game today, and asss their impact on the overall perceptn of homosexual profsnal athlet around the world. That beg said, due to s physily, gby is regard as a “manly” sport, which mak more difficult for gay players to publicly acknowledge their preference.

At the same time, there are many misnceptns about this betiful sport, which has led to the margalizatn and targetg of gay players. Some high-profile stars like Israel Fol have recently ma headl due to potentially homophobic posts on social media.

JAGS' MAXEN IS FIRST MALE AMERIN PRO SPORTS ACH TO E OUT AS GAY

* first openly gay rugby player *

This is one of the ma reasons why reprentativ of World Rugby met wh the lears of Internatnal Gay Rugby (IGR) to help eradite homophobia and tolerance om the game. Notable homosexual gby players and personali.

Here’s a list of ten notable gay gby players and how they are shapg the game today.

14 GAY SPORTG STARS WHO TOOK THE CISN TO GO PUBLIC

In major league baseball only two players have publicly me out as gay other than that few of mor league players have done so. * first openly gay rugby player *

The very first high-profile gby player to ever e out to the public as gay is former Atralian ternatnal Ian Roberts.

Even though Ian Roberts may have been the first high-profile player to openly adm beg gay, Keegan Hirst was the first to ever do while still active. Currently a Wakefield Try prop, Hirst has bee one of the most notable gay athlet, earng himself a startg role after signg a ntract wh the League si 2016.

Sam Stanley beme the first openly gay Rugby Unn and Sevens player the UK.

9 BASEBALL PLAYERS WHO CAME OUT AS GAY

The first English profsnal gby unn player has e out as gay. * first openly gay rugby player *

Although he never played gby at a profsnal level, Mark Bgham has bee an inic figure for gay gby players and sportspeople around the world.

Known for his heroics durg the September 11 attacks, Bgham was a robt send-row man who played for the gay-clive San Francis Fog RFC. The Mark Kendall Bgham Memorial Tournament, simply known as the Bgham Cup, is a biennial gay gby unn tournament which was held for the first time 2002.

FIRST ENGLISH PRO GBY UNN PLAYER OUT AS GAY

One-Tt Atralia prop Dan Palmer has bee the first Wallabi player to e out as gay. * first openly gay rugby player *

Thomas publicly me out 2009 and has sce scribed his experience as a secretly gay player, revealg how the social prsure and stereotyp pose a signifint challenge for many athlet today. The Welshman is also a TV personaly and a voted activist for the LGBT e, wng “Gay Sports Personaly of the De” at the Stonewall awards ceremony London back 2015.

-- Jaguars assistant strength and ndng ach Kev Maxen has bee the first male ach major Amerin men's profsnal sports to publicly e out as gay, tellg he ma the cisn bee he didn't want to hi who he is any longer and to possibly spire others siar 's a cisn and move that drew praise and support om owner Shad Khan, who was a vol and emphatic supporter of a cy ordance that expand protectns on the grounds of sexual orientatn, genr inty and genr exprsn. Outsi lebacker Carl Nassib beme the first active NFL player to e out as gay and to play a game Associated Prs ntributed to this report. Ne-time All-Ireland wner Valerie Mulhy will reveal how she alt wh her sexualy Donal Óg Cack's documentary to be aired next Cork footballer has bee the first high-profile female GAA star to e out publicly and do so to help others and to make other women, who are a siar suatn, to feel more fortable wh who they Óg Cack, the first openly gay GAA sports star, looks at attus towards homosexualy at home and abroad his documentary Comg Out Of The Curve which will be aired on Monday night on RTE, We take a look at other gay sports stars who took the cisn to go Og Cack (hurlg)The much-rated Rebel star is one of the greatt goalkeepers the game of hurlg has ever seen.

DAN PALMER: FORMER ATRALIA GBY PROP BE FIRST OPENLY GAY WALLABI PLAYER

He beme the first ele Irish sportsman to reveal he was gay his tobgraphy, 'Come What May', released last year. "Whatever you may feel about me or who I am, I've always been at peace wh , " he Cack (hurlg)The Cloyne hurler who last year bravely spoke out about his battle wh prsn joed his brother Donal Og Cack revealg that he is gay last year. He ntu to highlight mental health Stoney (football)England women's football pta said sh cid to speak publicly about beg gay after the posive reactn to diver Tom Daley sayg he was a relatnship wh a man.

Stoney, who has 116 ps for England, is now the most high-profile active gay footballer Hzlsperger (football)The 31-year-old, pped more than 50 tim for Germany, announced he was gay last year, the first high-profile German player to do so and the first to have played regularly the English Premier League. The former Aston Villa midfielr was advised by iends to keep his sexualy quiet but was astound by the posive reactn to his Fashanu (football)Bra's first black footballer to mand a £1ln transfer fee was also the first top-flight player to publicly adm his homosexualy. After admtg he was gay, Fashanu stggled to reigne an already stutterg reer, and retired 1997, blamg his downfall on prejudice the English game.

Louganis' tobgraphy, which spent five weeks at number one on the New York Tim bt-seller list on s release 1995, tailed his rise to global promence and subsequent cisn to e out as a homosexual livg wh HIV.

GAME CHANGERS: THE WORLD'S FIRST OPENLY GAY GBY LEAGUE PLAYERHOW DO FEEL TO BE THE FIRST, WHEN NO ONE FOLLOWS?IAN ROBERTS PLAYG FOR ATRALIA SOURCE: GETTY IMAG EUROPEHE WAS THE FIRST THE WORLD, AND STILL ONE OF THE ONLY RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS TO E OUT PUBLILLY AS GAY.HIS CISN HELPED CHANGE THE CULTURE AROUND MEN’S SPORT, BUT IAN ROBERTS FDS HARD TO LL HIMSELF A GAME CHANGER. “I DIDN’T REALLY HAVE TO DO ANYTHG EXCEPT BE MYSELF,” HE TELLS INSIGHT’S JENNY BROCKIE THIS WEEK.IAN DOWNPLAYS HIS G OUT, LLG HIS SEXUALY “THE WORST KEPT SECRET GBY LEAGUE.” BUT 1995, HE BEME THE VERY FIRST HIGH-PROFILE ATRALIAN SPORTS PERSON TO DO SO.DPE BEG TOLD BY HIS ACH THAT WOULDN’T BE ACCEPTED, AND HIS FEARS THAT HIS PERSONAL AND PROFSNAL LIV ULDN’T POSSIBLY MIX, IAN CID TO BE OPEN ABOUT HIS ORIENTATN AFTER GETTG TO KNOW A CHILD WH HIV.IAN ROBERTS, ON INSIGHT SOURCE: INSIGHT“I SAW THE DISCRIMATN AND THE PREJUDICE, THE EXCLN THAT THAT YOUNG BOY HAD TO GO THROUGH,” ROBERTS SAYS. “IT KD OF MA ME FEEL THAT I WAS JT BEG REALLY FAKE.”   IAN THOUGHT HE WOULD OPEN THE DOOR FOR OTHER ATHLET TO E OUT – BUT HE WAS SURPRISED WHEN, S LATER, THE GAME HADN’T CHANGED AS MUCH AS HE’D EXPECTED.“I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A TRICKLE ON EFFECT … I WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT, 20 YEARS DOWN THE LE, THAT ONLY ONE OTHER PLAYER HAD E OUT AT THE END OF HIS REER,” HE SAYS. “WE LIKE TO THK THGS HAVE CHANGED, BUT THEY HAVEN’T REALLY.”WH NO ONE ELSE SPEAKG OUT, IAN REMAED THE POSTER BOY FOR LGBT+ SPORTSPEOPLE. HE TELLS INSIGHT HOW BEG VISIBLE AND REAL ABOUT HIS SEXUALY HAS BEE A RPONSIBILY, WHICH SOMETIM WEIGHS HEAVILY.   “IT’S SOMETHG THAT YOU HAVE TO DO … FOR WHATEVER REASON, I’M THIS SUATN NOW.” WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE GAME – AND THGS STAY THE SAME? | INSIGHT: GAME CHANGERS - CATCH UP ONLE NOW:[VIORD VIO="877130307600"]FURTHER READGGAME CHANGERS: ATRALIA’S FIRST IVF BABIGAME CHANGERS: ATRALIA'S FIRST FEMALE PILOT FOR A MAJOR AIRLE SHAREFOLLOW INSIGHTFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBEINSIGHT IS ATRALIA'S LEADG FOM FOR BATE AND POWERFUL FIRST-PERSON STORI OFFERG A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAY WE LIVE. READ MORE ABOUT INSIGHTWATCH NOWJO THE DIENCEHAVE A STORY OR MENT? CONTACT USINSIGHT IS ATRALIA'S LEADG FOM FOR BATE AND POWERFUL FIRST-PERSON STORI OFFERG A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE WAY WE LIVE.WATCH NOWFOLLOW INSIGHTFACEBOOKTWTERSTAGRAMYOUTUBE2 M READPUBLISHED 27 FEBARY 2017 3:32PMUPDATED 28 FEBARY 2017 9:57PMBY NILA MCCASKILLTAGSSPORTSHARE THIS WH FAY AND IENDSCOPY LKSHARETOPICS

Marta Navratilova (tennis)The Czech-born ne-time Wimbledon champn me out publicly as gay 1981, a short time after she was granted US cizenship. "Prr to beg a [US] cizen, I uldn't speak my md about beg gay, " she said.

DAN PALMER PRAISED AFTER BEG FIRST WALLABI PLAYER TO E OUT AS GAY

"John Amaechi (basketball)The Amerin-born Bron was the first NBA player to openly adm to beg gay 2007. "Gareth Thomas (gby unn)Thomas, who was Wal' most-pped player and a former Brish and Irish Lns pta, publicly announced he was gay December 2009 at the age of 35.

"Steven Davi (cricket)The England and Surrey wicketkeeper beme the first active profsnal cricketer to openly adm to beg gay Febary 2011. " Davi, now 27, has played eight one-day ternatnals and five Twenty20 ternatnals for Rogers (soccer)Former Leeds wger and Uned Stat ternatnal Rogers revealed he was gay Febary 2013 and at the same time announced his retirement om football at the age of 25. "Nila Adams (boxg)Olympic boxg gold medallist Nila Adams topped the Inpennt's annual 'Pk List' poll of fluential lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr people November moreRead more: Read moreRead more:.

So, here we gonna talk about some of the bravt of all begs; as we know, Like other sports, homophobia is still prevalent baseball. Major League Baseball seems to be fallg behd other sports leagu acceptance of gay players.

10 GAY RUGBY PLAYERS WHO MA THEIR COME OUT

In MLB, players rerd g homophobic slurs gam. “Pri is for everyone, ” In profsnal baseball, brave players who me out as gay publicly are maly om mor leagu.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* FIRST OPENLY GAY RUGBY PLAYER

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5:50pm</time></div></li></ul></div></hear><div class="_074l4 cp_grid__em" data-ttid="article-body"><div class="_8xmX9 f85xC A8Lwr" data-ttid="embed-brightve"><div data-ttid="player-overlay"><picture data-ttid="poster-image" class="cp_picture dUTNY"><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/avif" srcSet="><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/webp" srcSet="><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1280px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 1024px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet=" media="(m-width: 768px)"/><source type="image/eg" srcSet="><img class="cp_picture__img" src="></picture><button class="_5ZKtN"><i class="cp_in cp_in__play-news-short-form EhtER lXUL6 cp_in--ctom-size" aria-hidn="false"><svg width="15" height="20" viewBox="0 0 15 20" fill="none" xmlns=" aria-label="Play Brightve vio" role="img"><tle>Play Brightve vio</tle><path fill-le="evenodd" clip-le="evenodd" d="M0.542124 0.110987C0.875033 -0.0604726 1.27584 -0.031568 1.5807 0.185886L14.5807 9.45861C14.8479 9.6492 15.0046 9.95875 14.9999 10.2869C14.9952 10.6151 14.8299 10.9201 14.5574 11.103L1.55738 19.8303C1.2507 20.0361 0.85551 20.0562 0.529562 19.8824C0.203615 19.7087 0 19.3694 0 19V1C0 0.625535 0.209216 0.282447 0.542124 0.110987Z" fill="whe"/></svg></i></button></div><vio-js data-acunt="2821697655001" data-player="B1J9ApOVZ" data-embed="flt" ntrols="" data-vio-id="6310380739112" data-playlist-id="" data-applitn-id="" class="_4h-ua"></vio-js></div><ul class="xhBdb" data-ttid="list"><li class="t9HgO" data-ttid="list-em"><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Vio report by <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" href=" data-ttid="fecp-lk-anchor"><span class="n6NlI">Harry Horton</span></a></p></li></ul><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Rugby league's first openly gay player has reversed his cisn to qu the game after a group of Atralian players refed to wear a shirt promotg sexual equaly.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Keegan Hirst, a former Wakefield, Halifax and Batley player, hung up his boots 2020 – five years after beg the first Brish player to publicly e out.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">But he said he wanted to "do somethg" to tackle homophobia after <a class="qNUzV q7LZa" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/2022-07-26/gby-league-players--stralia-to-boytt-key-match-over-gay-pri-jersey"><span class="n6NlI">a ntroversial prott by players om the Atralian Natnal Rugby League (NRL) team Manly Sea Eagl.</span></a></p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">They said they would boytt a key champnship match over their team's cisn to wear a gay pri jersey sportg rabow lours. </p><div class="qNUzV Z4snd" data-ttid="article-lk"><div class="-VoCt"><a class="WPcEk" data-ttid="next-lk-anchor" href="/news/lendar/2021-03-02/gby-league-referee-jam-child-opens-up-about-his-cisn-to-go-public-wh-his-sexualy">Rugby League referee on the reactn to gog public wh his sexualy</a><i class="cp_in cp_in__chevron cp_in--base uQW1m" aria-hidn="te"><svg xmlns=" width="12" height="20" viewBox="0 0 12 20" fill="none" role="img"> <path fill-le="evenodd" clip-le="evenodd" d="M0.256714 0.331044C0.626173 -0.0794661 1.25846 -0.112744 1.66897 0.256714L11.669 9.25671C11.8797 9.44635 12 9.71651 12 10C12 10.2835 11.8797 10.5537 11.669 10.7433L1.66897 19.7433C1.25846 20.1127 0.626173 20.0795 0.256714 19.669C-0.112744 19.2584 -0.0794661 18.6262 0.331044 18.2567L9.50515 10L0.331044 1.7433C-0.0794661 1.37384 -0.112744 0.741553 0.256714 0.331044Z" fill="#FFF"/> </svg></i></div></div><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><strong class="_1ATDh">'Progrs is really hard won'</strong></p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Hirst, 34, said: "Manly was the straw that broke the mel's back. I'd been um-g and ah-g about ... then I realised I'm dog all this talkg and actns speak lour than words.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"People boyttg playg bee of a rabow on a shirt – jt shows that progrs is really hard won. It's not permanent and reprentatn and visibily matter. So I uld s on the si and I be a mouthpiece all I want, but realistilly I n do somethg. </p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"I'm still a posn where I n put on my rabow lac, get the boots on, go out and be that reprentatn and role mol for people... 2022 shouldn't take all this uproar to put a jersey on wh a rabow."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Keegan, who is divorced wh children, played more than 300 tim before retirg, cludg Super League for Wakefield. He was playg for Halifax when he announced his retirement after the Covid panmic started and he beme "disillned" wh gby.</p><figure class="A8Lwr m-O"><div class="cp_placeholr"></div><figptn class="Ya3u6 SilLI" data-ttid="ptned-picture-ptn">Keegan Hirst played 66 tim for Wakefield Try<span class="mjYl8"> Cred: <!-- -->PA</span></figptn></figure><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">It followed homophobic remarks om the Atralian player Israel Fol.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">Hirst said: "To be hont put me off gby a ltle b so I jt cid to distance myself om and I cid not to e back. </p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"The kids were gettg olr and I jt wanted to spend more time wh those guys and now they are pretty much teenagers and don't want to spend time wh me so 's opened the door to e back."</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">He says he is "cent nick" and has re-signed for his home-town club, Batley Bulldogs.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"It would be nice to get that number up a b more so there's that, a b of personal pri, fishg on my terms rather than bee of Covid on a damp squib," he said</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">But the ma reason for Keegan's return is his aim to spire others, particularly young sportspeople who may hold back for fear of abe.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">"Who knows maybe there's some kid who watch this, who lov gby and thks I n be gay and play gby.</p><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX">He add: "I'm unr no illns I don't have a huge platform but 's jt about showg people that you n be gay and play a sport, you n be out and proud and play at a profsnal level." </p><hr/><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><strong class="_1ATDh">Want a quick and expert briefg on the biggt news stori? Listen to our latt podsts to fd out What You Need To Know.</strong></p><div class="_8xmX9 A8Lwr" data-ttid="embed-spreaker-playlist"><iame class="vWpZr" src=" tle="Podst playlist embed" loadg="lazy"></iame></div><p class="A8Lwr BVYCX"><span class="LjyUJ"></span></p></div><footer data-ttid="article-footer"><div class="cQTzz C04KI" data-ttid="tag-list"><ul class="fHh0w"><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/lendar"><span data-ttid="tag-text">Calendar</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/gby-league"><span data-ttid="tag-text">Rugby League</span></a></div></li><li class="Jp5fE"><div class="aqX0o"></div><div data-ttid="tag" class="_6DWPQ xp9pO"><a class="HPL4j" data-ttid="tag-lk" href="/news/topic/lgbt"><span data-ttid="tag-text">LGBT+</span></a></div></li><li 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