( CNN ) -- A former international rugby star has shocked the sports world by revealing that he is gay . Gareth Thomas , Wales ' most-capped player after appearing in 100 Tests , made the surprise announcement in an interview with British newspaper The Daily Mail . The 35-year-old retired from internationals after the 2007 World Cup , but still plays for Welsh provincial side Cardiff Blues . He is the first openly gay top-level rugby player , although top referee Nigel Owens came out in 2007 . While homosexuality in a macho code such as rugby is rarely acknowledged , top-level tennis players such as Billie Jean King , Martina Navratilova and Amelie Mauresmo have discussed being lesbian . Former NBA basketball star John Amaechi came out in his memoir in 2007 a couple of years after his retirement , while Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis was candid about his sexuality and tested positive for HIV in 1988 . Thomas married his childhood sweetheart Jemma in 2002 , but they separated in 2006 and their divorce is being finalized . `` I 've been through all sorts of emotions with this -- tears , anger and absolute despair , '' he said . `` I was n't sure if I ever wanted to let people know and , to be honest , I feel anxious about people 's reactions and the effect it might have on my family . '' He said he knew he had was gay from as young as 16 or 17 , but hid it as he sought to establish his rugby career , later going on to captain the British and Irish Lions and becoming one of the top backs in international rugby . `` I could never accept it because I knew I would never be accepted as a gay man and still achieve what I wanted to achieve in the game , '' he said . `` I became a master of disguise and could play the straight man down to a tee , sometimes over-compensating by getting into fights or being overly aggressive because I did n't want the real me to be found out . But when you withdraw into yourself you start to feel lonely , upset , ashamed . '' The player finally revealed he was gay to Wales coach Scott Johnson after a match in November 2006 , and the Australian then informed his teammates Stephen Jones and Martyn Williams . `` They came in , patted me on the back and said , 'We do n't care , ' '' Thomas said . `` Two of my best mates in rugby did n't even blink an eyelid . `` It 's pretty tough for me being the only international rugby player prepared to break the taboo . Statistically I ca n't be the only one , but I 'm not aware of any other gay player still in the game . `` I 'd love for it , in 10 years ' time , not to even be an issue in sport , and for people to say : 'So what ? ' `` I do n't want to be known as a gay rugby player . I am a rugby player first and foremost . I am a man . I just happen to be gay . It 's irrelevant . What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do with what I have achieved in rugby . ''
Former international rugby star Gareth Thomas of Wales reveals that he is gay . The 35-year-old is the sport 's first high-profile name to acknowledge being homosexual . He married his childhood sweetheart in 2002 but they are separated and getting divorced . Thomas retired from internationals in 2007 as Wales ' most-capped player .