Keegan Hirst
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 13 February 1988 Batley, West Yorkshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 29/01/2016 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keegan Hirst (born 13 February 1988) in Batley, West Yorkshire, England is a semi-professional rugby league player for Batley. He plays at prop forward and is the team captain. In 2015 he became the first British professional player to come out as gay.
Playing career
Hirst began his career as an academy player at Bradford before joining Hunslet in 2008.[1] After a season with Hunslet, Hirst moved to Dewsbury for two seasons and then moved to Batley for the 2012 season.[2] In 2013 he moved to Featherstone Rovers but returned to Batley, first on loan and then on a permanent move in 2014.[3]
Private life
Hirst is divorced with two children.[4] In an interview with the Sunday Mirror in August 2015 he came out as gay,[4] becoming the first British professional rugby league player to do so.[5]
See also
- Ian Roberts - first gay rugby league player
- Gareth Thomas - first gay rugby union player
References
- ^ "How rugby star Keegan Hirst's coming out statement helps to challenge gay stereotypes". Telegraph & Argus. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "Roughyeds 2009". Oldham Evening Chronicle. 11 March 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "Rovers prop Hirst is back at Batley". Pontefract and Castleford Express. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Rugby League star Keegan Hirst becomes first Brit player to come out as gay". Sunday Mirror. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
- ^ "Keegan Hirst steps on to field as Britain's first rugby league star to come out as gay". The Guardian. 16 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.