Gary Lineker, Nigel Owens and more send messages of support to Gareth Thomas

by Steven Smith

Sunday, 15 September 2019 at 09:32

13d6ede0a4ec44c4b3a2669e45171a1b1b3738c54ec465fe728df8a9b7dd6821 4774975

bySteven Smith

Add as a preferred source on Google

Former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas has revealed he is HIV positive, saying he wants to "break the stigma" around the condition.

He said he wants to show how people with HIV are misrepresented as "walking around with walking sticks who are close to dying".

He has also spoken about "shame" and "fear" of keeping his condition secret.

Here are some of the messages of support the legend has recieved on Twitter:

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092531 1

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092716

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092609

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092645

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092744

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092812

screen shot 2019 09 15 at 092559

EDITORS PICKS:

loading

TRENDING

screenshot 2026 09 15 at 190256

All Blacks confirm Ardie Savea has been replaced as captain

All Blacks Rugby News•

Oct 31, 21:01

"Don't speak to me like that" – Luke Pearce clashes with Louis Rees-Zammit

Oct 31, 09:11

Jonah Lomu's sons following in his footsteps – but not with the All Blacks

at 05:33

imago1069556304h

England's injury crisis deepens as three more stars face fitness race

England Rugby News•

at 06:38

imago1079157307h

"Ninth" – Henry Pollock not even among England's eight highest-paid players despite £1m earnings

Oct 31, 10:58

Finn Russell

Finn Russell makes retirement decision ahead of 2027 Rugby World Cup

Scotland Rugby News•

Oct 31, 12:22

LATEST NEWS

imago1075821032h

Lawrence Dallaglio urges England to make shock call-up ahead of Australia clash

at 19:09

England head coach Steve Borthwick faces questions over his future ahead of the November Nations Championship matches following reports of a contract extension until 2028.

Steve Borthwick demands major rule change ahead of Australia clash

at 17:54

imago1083118477h

Springboks star Damian Willemse's future in doubt amid growing uncertainty

Rugby Transfer News•

at 13:38

Ollie Chessum and Joe Heyes named in the PREM team of the week.

Gallagher PREM Team of the Week: Leicester stars lead XV as England hopefuls shine

PREM Rugby News•

at 10:59

p 00021635

Scotland dealt huge Nations Championship blow as former captain faces lengthy lay-off

Scotland Rugby News•

at 08:52

imago1085295826h

"England's Lomu" – Steve Borthwick told to recall 6ft 4in, 113kg powerhouse winger

England Rugby News•

at 08:23

LATEST COMMENTS

Exhooker29-10-2026
Typical discrimination against the girls.
Exhooker26-10-2026
How many carries did Pollock have, seem to stand off a lot.
Mayben55426-10-2026
ban him! The URC fans were up in arms about Jan Hendrik Wessels "nut grab". With the same amount of evidence more aor less. He should be banned
Exhooker22-10-2026
LPM is the way to go for the future. Too much crash ball, slowing the game down and causing penalties to be awarded. Let's see trhe game opening up
RRfan1022-10-2026
The decision to bench Kildunne makes sense as she is fast,quick thinking, but and could easily make a difference in the second half having watched the team play without her.. Molony-Macdonald has probably cost them 2 games with her disallowed try attempts and wasted team efforts to get her there.
KiwiRooster18-10-2026
Phil Vickery certainly did not make a healthy decision at 50+yo. To get shredded like this, one has to get all the water out of his system. Typically, people who achieve this to the extreme like he did use chemically or pharmaceutically induced diuretic which carries severe medical risks such as kidney failure. If I recall, Jonah Lomu himself transitioned into an amateur bodybuilding career after quiting professional rugby and I suspect he would have used diuretics himself. If you have ever had kidney stones past your 40s which is quite frequent with the lesser calcium absorption that comes with age, you would know the last thing you want to do to your body is starve it of water. Hydration is key if you want to last and kidney disease are no joke, they will kill you in one of the most unpleasant, nastiest ways possible. "Looking good" does not mean you are healthy and in this case I would say it does not even look good. To me the example to follow is Ritchie McCaw. He lost weight via a more natural process of cycling and preparing for a run across the South Island of New Zealand. Running marathons just like body building is not a great idea for longevity but preparing for the occasional cross country run is a great idea. McCaw looks sharp, he has lost the weight that was necessary for his rugby career but unecessary for his joints and his new career as an helicopter pilot. To me, he made the right move, the healthiest move. Body building is to be avoided at all ages. Never mind those who tell you it is natural, it never ever is.
s1john17-10-2026
Well I am at it, when you list tallest players you also exclude 6ft 10 Derwyn Jones.
s1john17-10-2026
How on earth have you left out 110m olympic hurdler Nigel Walker from the list. I guarantee he was faster than Christian Wade
APJones15-10-2026
It's only a song , more of a chant I suppose always associated with English rugby . No problem .
Whelker13-10-2026
What a horrible sight

Loading