England rugby star Chris Robshaw plans to march in Pride with LGBTQ team
The former England captain reveals why he's passionate about LGBTQ inclusion in sport in Attitude's October issue.
By Will Stroude
England rugby star Chris Robshaw has revealed he plans to march in a Pride parade next year.
The Harlequin FC player and former England captain says he hopes to join LGBTQ rugby club King’s Cross Steelers in 2020’s Pride in London parade to show his support for the LGBTQ community.
As he poses for an exlcusive shoot and interview in Attitude’s October issue – available to download and to order globally now – the 33-year-old sportsman reveals that LGBTQ inclusion is an issue close to his heart.
“I’ve got a lot of gay friends and one of them was disowned by his family at 16 for being gay.”
He goes on: “The sad thing is that people still get abuse or attacked for being gay. That is such a worrying thing in this day and age.
Photography: LUXXXER
“Even in London, some of my gay friends feel they can’t hold hands [in public].”
“When you hear stuff like that, you realise people still struggle, and no one should go through that.
“And as someone in a very male-dominated industry, in rugby, I want to be able to help people in places where coming out might not be easy.”
Robshaw, who celebrated Manchester Pride last month with LGBTQ squard Village Spartans, says he hopes to march alongside LGBTQ players in London next year.
“The King’s Cross Steelers have asked me to march at Pride in London next year, so hopefully I’ll be around to join them which will be good fun,” he reveals.
“[Former England star] James Haskell marched with them last year, and it’s just good for people in different industries to support inclusive teams and show we’re in this together.
Homophobia in rugby has been a hot topic on conversation in 2019 after Australian player Israel Folau was banned from the sport by Rugby Australia after sharing social media posts claiming gay people were going “to hell”.
Asked for his own thoughts on the controversy, Robshaw says: “You saw the backlash, with the majority of the rugby community wanting to fight in the LGBTQ community’s corner, in this country and Australia [where Folau] played.
“You don’t want to see hatred towards other people – for their sexuality, skin colour, religion – in sport or anywhere else.
“You just want people to have equal opportunities, regardless of where they come and who they are.”
Read the full interview with Chris Robshaw in Attitude’s October issue, available to download and to order globally now.
Buy now and take advantage of our best-ever subscription offers: three issues for £3 in print, 13 issues for £19.99 to download to any device.
