Keegan Hirst
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| Born | 13 February 1988 Batley, West Yorkshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Prop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 30 October 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keegan Hirst (born 13 February 1988) in Batley, West Yorkshire, England is a professional rugby league player for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. He plays at prop forward and is the team captain. In 2015 he became the first British professional player to come out as gay. In 2016 Hirst was a dater on Channel 4's dating show Firts Dates, also in 2016 Hirst took part in W's Celebrity Haunted Hotel.
Playing career
Hirst began his career as an academy player at Bradford Bulls before joining Hunslet Hawks in 2008.[2] After a season with the Hawks, Hirst moved to Dewsbury Rams for two seasons and then moved to Batley Bulldogs for the 2012 season.[3] In 2013 he moved to Featherstone Rovers but returned to Batley, first on loan and then on a permanent move in 2014.[4]
In August 2016 Hirst signed a deal with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats to play for the Super League side from 2017.[5]
Private life
Hirst is divorced with two children.[6] In an interview with the Sunday Mirror in August 2015 he came out as gay,[6] becoming the first British professional rugby league player to do so.[7]
See also
- Ian Roberts - first openly gay rugby league player
- Gareth Thomas - first openly gay rugby union player
References
- ^ loverugbyleague
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Keegan Hirst: Batley Bulldogs prop agrees move to Wakefield Wildcats". BBC Sport. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ 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.