Gareth Thomas: coming out was scariest moment of my life

The play depicts the story of Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas’s coming out. Thomas was the most capped Welsh rugby union player ever, and revealed his sexuality in 2009.

Gareth Thomas told Channel 4 News of the moment he told his rugby coach he was gay, and how he came close to killing himself while grappling with his sexuality.

“We just sat down, we had a couple of cans and basically I told him why Gemma [Gareth’s wife] had left me and what I was going through.

“I told him my attempted suicide and basically how my life was falling apart.”

Gareth admits he is hardly unique for coming out as gay, but says the fact it is still illegal to be gay in many countries convinces him it is worthwhile telling his story.

“If I keep getting letters or if I keep getting messages from people who are still taking strength from my story, who are still finding it difficult and struggling, then you know what, then I’ll keep doing what I do.”

Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage opens in Cardiff on Thursday before going on a UK tour. The production worked with Gareth Thomas himself, as well as young people in Bridgend, his home town.

The play is billed as “a great Welsh story about sport, politics, secrets, life and learning to be yourself.”