Antoine Dupont speaks out about homosexuality in rugby, jokes he 'doesn't have a boyfriend'
Today at 02:37 PM
France’s scrum-half sensation and World Rugby Player of the Year, Antoine Dupont, has voiced his concerns about the challenges LGBTQ+ athletes face in the sport.
In a heartfelt interview on the French program "Les Rencontres du Papotins," Dupont addressed how the stigma surrounding homosexuality still affects the game. It’s a conversation worth tuning into, but here are some key takeaways.
‘Rugby Would Be Ready to Accept Them’
The 27-year-old star didn't hold back when discussing the struggles players might feel about coming out. “It's very slow,” Dupont remarked.
“We, for example, in professional rugby, have only one player who has come out. While I think that, statistically, there must still be others.” Despite the hurdles, Dupont reassured, “We would be ready to accept this without any problem.”
A Peek Into His Personal Life
When quizzed about relationships, Dupont humorously noted, "I don’t have children. I don’t have a girlfriend, because that’s life (smiles). I don’t have a boyfriend either."
While keeping things light, he made it clear that his life remains focused on rugby and family.
Heartbreak Behind the Headlines
Dupont also shared a deeply personal story about his family, particularly the loss of his father. “My dad died last year … he had been in a vegetative state for eight years,” he revealed. “He was in a centre. And he passed away last year.”
For years, Dupont balanced his meteoric rise in rugby with the pain of seeing his father in a prolonged state of illness. It's a tragedy that shaped his journey, making his triumphs all the more remarkable.
Hearing him speak openly about such emotional experiences reminds us that even the world's best athletes carry burdens off the field. It’s a reminder that behind the record-breaking tries and trophy-lifting moments, real, raw human stories often lie.
While World Rugby is taking a firm stance on inclusion and diversity, there are many personalities who have been paving the way for this inspiring movement.
1.Nigel Owens
All fans, players, and anyone who knows anything about rugby will know the name, Nigel Owens. Besides having the record for most test matches refereed, Owens has earned a reputation as one of the top rugby referees around the world.
The Welshman is also a TV personality and a devoted activist for the LGBT cause, winning "Gay Sports Personality of the Decade" at the Stonewall awards ceremony in London back in 2015.
2.Gareth Thomas
The Wales legend is one of the greatest rugby players in the history of the UK, captaining the Welsh international side as well as the British and Irish Lions during his career.
Thomas publicly came out in 2009 and has since described his experience as a secretly gay player, revealing how the social pressure and stereotypes pose a significant challenge for many athletes today.
3.Craig Maxwell-Keys
Maxwell-Keys, who took charge of the 2020 Gallagher Premiership final, eventually decided the time was right to reveal his sexuality to colleagues at Twickenham as well as his local club, Lichfield RFC in 2019.
Now based in Cheltenham, he aims to continue moving up the referees’ pecking order – and his experiences since coming out have indicated that sexuality will be no barrier to that.
4.Sam Stanley
England Sevens international Sam Stanley became the first English professional rugby union player to publicly come out as gay in August 2015.
Now 26, the former Saracens back played in five Sevens World Series tournaments for England and belongs to one of the sport’s most famous families.
5.Mark Bingham
Not a professional but deserves a special mention. Mark, a gay rugby fan and sportsman, was a passenger on Flight 93 on September 11th, 2001.
Bingham is widely credited with helping prevent further deaths when he helped lead a passenger revolt against hijackers who had seized control of the plane and begun to direct it towards a target in Washington DC.
Rushing the cockpit and risking their own lives, the passengers successfully overthrew the hijackers and managed to bring down the plane in a field.
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