Former All Blacks mainstay Campbell Johnstone revealed his homosexuality on New Zealand television on Monday, a first for the three-time World Cup-winning national rugby team.
The 43-year-old pillar, three selections in 2005, had told his family and close friends before coming out on the One News channel of the TVNZ network.
“If I can be the first All Black to come out as gay and help prevent the stigma around these issues, it can help other people.
Everyone will know there is one among the All Blacks,” said Johnstone, who played for Biarritz Olympique between 2008 and 2012.
Much love and support for All Black #1056 Campbell Johnstone for having the courage to share his story and helping create a more inclusive game.
🌈 pic.twitter.com/z9rjOKl1rn
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) January 30, 2023
Access to this content has been blocked to respect your choice of consent
By clicking on "
I ACCEPT
", you accept the deposit of cookies by external services and will thus have access to the content of our partners
I ACCEPT
And to better remunerate 20 Minutes, do not hesitate to accept all cookies, even for one day only, via our "I accept for today" button in the banner below.
More information on the Cookie Management Policy page.
“This could be one of the final pieces of the (public) acceptance puzzle for New Zealand sport and it could be a vital piece that allows everyone to move on,” he added. .
The All Blacks praised his public speaking on Instagram, mentioning his national team player number 1056. “Lots of love and support for All Black #1056 Campbell Johnstone for having the courage to share his story and help create a more inclusive game,” the men in black’s account read.
Sport
Homophobia: "Only one player has come out, it's terrible...", French rugby launches its awareness program
Sport
Fight against homophobia: When will the first coming out of a pro footballer in France?
Rugby
All Blacks
Homosexuality
Coming out
Sport