Rugby league hardman's parents stopped talking to him when he came out as gay

15 March 2023 , 13:49

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Ian Roberts in action for Manly Sea Eagles (Image: Getty Images)

Former Rugby league star Ian Roberts has revealed he didn't speak to his parents for over a year after telling them he was gay.

Roberts, 57, was born in London but spent most of his playing career in Australia after his family moved to Sydney when he was only two-years-old.

After an impressive start to his career, he became the highest-paid player in the sport in the 1990s and was best known for his tough-tackling, hardman approach.

But he admits he was struggling to open up about his sexuality, having grown up in a household with "a lot of misogynistic and homophobic language".

Roberts, who also spent time with Wigan Warriors, was playing for Manly Sea Eagles when he was asked by his parents if he was gay. The question came after a vicious false rumour about him engaging in a lewd sex act was spread by his mother's work colleagues.

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The former rugby star recalled the conversation in 1995, with his late father telling him: "We just need to hear you say you are not gay, and that is good enough for us."

Roberts told the BBC his decision to reveal the truth saw him not speak to his parents for around 18 months. He added: "My dad's first words were: 'But you play footy, you play for Australia.' That was where his head went."

The ex-Wigan man admits he didn't come out sooner due to the backlash received by ex-footballer Justin Fashanu when he announced he was gay.

Ian Roberts was the first openly-gay professional rugby league player (Getty Images)

Roberts added: "My experience was so different to Justin's - I was embraced. You gain a bit of respect from people. When you have taken ownership and are comfortable with yourself, there is a power in that and other people can sense it in you.

"I had this persona of being an aggressive player, a guy who could handle myself on the pitch - and I could. My coming out challenged people's preconceptions of gay men."

He revealed his teammates at Manly supported him after coming out and his father became a 'champion and ally' of the LGBTQ+ community before he passed away in 2014.

Batley Bulldogs star Keegan Hirst became the fist British player to come out as gay back in 2015 and still plays in the Championship after reversing his plans to retire last year.

Liam Prenderville