The discussion came only days after openly gay Gaelic football referee David Gough pondered whether players at the highest level in Ireland feel comfortable coming out publicly.
Gough, who refereed the All-Ireland final, questioned what the barriers stopping players from openly discussing their sexuality were. Dunne himself acknowledged those concerns raised by Gough, saying that he understood why people would feel apprehensive about coming out.
He did, though, say that his sexuality has never caused any issues among his teammates at Leinster. There's Sam Stanley, Levi Davies is another guy, but he's only quite recently as well.
You're kind of thinking, like, is it not the best environment? Even though you wouldn't really hear anything against it, it's just more like 'why has no one done it? The host and Dunne were determined, though, to once again drive home that this is not a "coming out" story. Jack Dunne has been openly bisexual for years, but has decided that now is the time to speak openly about it for the first time, in the hope of becoming a "role model" for any young players in Ireland grappling with their sexuality.
Speaking to Jack Murley on the BBC's LGBT Sport podcast, he said that the season had been "eery" and that having fans in for the last game of the season against the Dragons was a welcome step towards normality. On the weekend of Pride, Jack Dunne's discussion about his experience of being bisexual is a powerful statement for inclusion in sport. Toggle navigation. You can go out with the lads and do all that stuff, but it is easier to not be true to yourself.
It went pretty well, there were one or two people who said 'you are not bisexual, you are gay and you won't come out', but largely it was overwhelmingly positive so it was a massive weight off the shoulders when I did that.
Dunne said that today's news won't surprise his team-mates at Leinster, who have known for years, and added that he never had to tell anyone at the province as he presumed it had been known in rugby circles since he came out in school. I never had to tell anyone in a professional environment. Dunne admitted that although he is wary of becoming known as 'the bisexual rugby player', he thought it was more important to be a role model for any kids who are in a similar position.
Sign up to our rugby newsletter today and be in with a chance of winning two tickets to Ireland v the All Blacks on Saturday, November Enter email address This field is required Sign Up. But at the same time, maybe there are some kids across the country who could do with a role model," Dunne said. It became clear to me that living my life with more transparency and openly celebrating who I love would have an immediate positive impact on me and those I care about.
So I want to start by celebrating the love of my life and my partner Fergus Wade who has been with me through the highs and the very lows of the last three years. I am openly gay. This is something that is not a secret to those close to me and even several people not close to me. But I always felt a need to keep it separate from my rugby career. Rugby Union has long been one of the most gay-accepting team sports in the world.
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