Gareth Thomas: Life and times of rugby star who became an HIV campaigner – The Times

Gareth Thomas broke one of the most enduring taboos in sport when he came out publicly in 2009.

In the macho world of rugby, an openly gay player was almost unheard of — certainly one with the profile of “Alfie”, as Thomas’s teammates knew him after an alien figure in an American sitcom.

As a rugby star who had won 100 caps for Wales and captained the British and Irish Lions, Thomas had earned huge renown.

But it has been as a pioneering openly gay sportsman and HIV campaigner that he has been celebrated by the wider world, including royalty.

“Courageous as ever, legend on the pitch and legend off it,” Prince William tweeted when Thomas disclosed that he was HIV positive in 2019.

The