Gay referee Nigel Owens to discuss coming out
Nigel Owens, the Welsh referee who came out in 2007, is to discuss his decision in a television documentary.
He will appear in a S4C documentary tomorrow to reveal how he mustered the courage to come out.
According to the Daily Post, he admitted he had taken years to come to terms with his sexual orientation.
“It was difficult coming to terms with and accepting that I was gay – I wasn’t happy at all in my personal life and I knew I had to do something about it,” he said.
“As a result, my work on the rugby field was being seriously affected. The only option I had was to face it and be open with everyone and make the biggest decision of my life.
“Overall the response has been positive.”
In his autobiography Hanner Amser (Half Time) Owens revealed he tried to commit suicide before deciding to tell family and friends he was gay.
He was nominated for a Stonewall Award for Sportsperson of the Year in 2007 and went on to officiate at the Rugby World Cup in France in 2008.
The programme will be screened tomorrow at 8.25pm.
