Former National Rugby League star Kane Evans has opened up about his sexuality. (Steve Christo/Getty)
Former National Rugby League (NRL) player Kane Evans says he finally feels “free” after publicly coming out as gay, becoming the first men’s professional rugby league player to do so since Ian Roberts more than three decades ago in 1995.
In an emotional interview with Channel Nine’s ‘100% Footy’, Evans revealed that he spent years living in denial about his sexuality while battling addiction, homelessness and suicidal thoughts, revealing: “I’ve been fighting a war within since I was about 15 years old, and it’s not sustainable.”
The former prop forward said he had achieved his childhood goals of playing in the NRL and buying his parents a house, but had long believed he would eventually take his own life because he could not accept who he was. Evans credited former player Joe Galuvao and the Rugby League Players Association with helping him seek treatment and begin rebuilding his life, saying their support made him realise that “maybe death isn’t in the plan for me yet.”
Evans also praised Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who welcomed him back to the club after rehabilitation and helped cover some of his living expenses while he focused on his mental health. The 34-year-old celebrated four months of sobriety in May and said coming out had brought him a sense of peace he had never experienced before.
«Ho portato [nascondere la mia sessualità] per tutta la vita», ha detto Evans. «Sono qui oggi per mostrare alle persone che non devi vivere così. Anche ora mi sento un po’ più libero, semplicemente dicendolo ad alta voce, l’ho portato alla luce. Sento pace dentro di me e sembra che un peso si sia sollevato dalle mie spalle. Sono un po’ orgoglioso di me stesso e quando mi guardo nello specchio, d’ora in poi sorriderò, non avrò più quei pensieri negativi».
Roberts, che fece coming out nel 1995, ha detto al Daily Telegraph di essersi commosso fino alle lacrime guardando l’intervista, «Tutto quello che stava dicendo… ho pensato ‘questo povero ragazzo’, so esattamente dove si trova nella sua testa, cosa sta attraversando, gli estremi dell’incertezza del proprio senso di sé e del modo in cui percepisce gli altri», ha detto.
