Gay footy icon Ian Roberts says next player to come out will be a 'superstar'
Rugby league great Ian Roberts, Australian's first openly gay professional player, has sent a powerful message to closeted gay players who are afraid to come out.
Roberts, who came out in 1995, has urged gay footballers not to be afraid to embrace their authentic selves after it was recently revealed in a survey that player agents had been asked to not reveal the sexuality of certain players.
Roberts was not surprised by the news, revealing that he's been approached by two players to discuss the prospect of coming out.
'I find those survey results fascinating,' he told News Corp.
'I find it fascinating because I really believe that the next male who comes out in a major contact sport, like rugby league, rugby union or the AFL, will become an absolute superstar.
'I can tell you I've had two instances over the past 15 or so years where (NRL) guys have got in touch with me. One of those was anonymous, I didn't know his name, and the other one was semi-open about it.
The NRL hardman had a 13-year career that saw him play for the Souths, Manly, North Queensland, City, NSW, Australia and Wigan in England
'They asked me what I thought the best situation was. I said I can't answer that for you.
'All I told them was that you need to know that you are safe and loved and once you come out, you can't go back in.
'Those two players ultimately never came out. I want to say to any gay male player – the best thing ever I did was come out.
'My family always knew I was gay, but I thought I shouldn't have to tell people I'm gay.
'People should just accept it. Even when I was at Souths, I would bring my (male) partner to functions and people were waiting for me to come out.
'But I always thought: 'Why should I label this?' But I understand now as time goes on why I had to. I wish I was never in the closet.'
The survey, conducted by Code Sports, polled more than 50 player agents and asked them what some of the big issues they faced were.
Several agents said that conversations about coming out had come up.
'There's a few homosexuals in the NRL that people wouldn't know about,' a player manager said.
'I would say there are up to six or seven (gay male players) in the game today.
'Some NRL players are confused about their identity and we have to be there as agents to help them come to terms with it in what is a very macho industry.'
Roberts had a 13-year career that saw him play for the Souths, Manly, North Queensland, City, NSW, Australia and Wigan in England.
When he was 21, coach Jack Gibson called him the 'best front rower in the game'.
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