Samoan-English Sevens player Sam Stanley, nephew of an All Black great and a member of one of rugby’s most well-known families, has come out. The 23-year-old has told The Sunday Times he was 10 or 11 when he realised he was different to his friends. “I didn't want to accept it, I felt that being different wasn't right. I had a girlfriend and I was thinking that, like some people say, maybe it is just a phase.” He adds, “You are so worried about what people will think and I thought I couldn’t be a macho rugby player the way I was, and there was nothing else I wanted to do with my life,” he says. He had kept his five-year relationship with partner Laurence a secret till now, but has hope things will be easier for other players in the future. “It is going to be an issue until more people and athletes come out, until it is not an issue at all. It might take years but hopefully, lots of people will find the courage.” Stanley is the nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley. He has an English mother and Samoan father, and his brother Mike is in Samoa’s Rugby World Cup squad. He represented England at under-16 and under-18 level, then played for Saracens, before joining the Sevens circuit, representing England. He is just the second professional rugby player to come out, following Welshman Gareth Thomas.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 30th August 2015 - 7:40pm