Scrum-half Nick McCarthy Comes Out As Gay And Thanks Club For Their Support – Men’s Health

In October of 2021, the world of sport came to be united in its support of Josh Cavallo, the A-League midfielder and Adelaide United star who came out as gay and, in doing so, opened the door for other athletes to have such conversations knowing the widespread support available to them should they choose. As the only known current male top-flight professional footballer in the world to come out as gay, Cavallo said in a statement that he was finally ready to “speak about something personal that I’m finally comfortable to talk about in my life,” and acknowledged just how the culture surrounding professional sport has led many male stars to live in silence, existing in a constant tension between their professional dreams and a desire to live authentically. 

The impact of Cavallo’s actions can’t be underestimated, with ripple effects being seen across both sport and society at large. Now, Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy has come out as gay and is sharing his story in the hope of inspiring others. Having already told his teammates earlier this year, McCarthy said his experience has been “entirely positive” and went on to thank the incredible support he’d received from coaches Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster. Prior to coming out, McCarthy had struggled to reconcile his identity with his sporting pursuits, leaving him to consider quitting professional rugby union due to his sexuality. 

The 27-year-old expressed just how much of an influence Josh Cavallo had been on his ability to come out, along with American footballer Carl Nassib and bisexual teammate Jack Dunne. “I struggled with coming out for a while and it was starting to impact on me and my happiness so it was the right decision,” McCarthy told Leinster’s website. “It affected me so much that I agonised over my future and contemplated walking away from rugby altogether, because I just didn’t think I could come out while playing rugby.”