Keegan Hirst: How my teammates reacted to me coming out
When Keegan Hirst came out as gay last August it had a profound impact on both his personal and professional life.
Not only did it signal the end of his marriage to Sara, the mother of his two children, but he also had to live with the tag of the first rugby league player to come out as gay.
Captain of the Batley Bulldogs, Keegan confided first in his two closest friends in the team, Alex Rowe and Joe Chandler.
Rugby league has had problems with homophobia in the past, which makes Keegan's decision to go public with his homosexuality all the braver.
Rugby league has had problems with homophobia in the past, which makes Keegan's decision to go public with his homosexuality all the more brave.
In 2010 Castleford Tigers was fined £40,000 after homophobic abuse from its fans was levelled at former Welsh rugby union star Gareth Thomas, who was then playing for the Crusaders.
Leeds Rhinos player, and last seasons Man of Steel Zak Hardaker was banned for five matches in 2014 after being found guilty by the game's governing body, the RFL, of aiming homophobic abuse at referee James Child.
In an attempt to get more gay men playing sport Phil Stewart has set up the Leeds Hornets, the city's first all inclusive rugby club.
At a professional level Gareth Thomas was the first rugby union player to come out as gay in 2009, whereas Steven Davies was the first international cricketer to reveal his homosexuality a year later.
However, at present there is not one single openly gay footballer in the country's top five divisions.
Former Leeds winger Robbie Rogers and Thomas Hitzelsperger, once of Aston Villa, announced they were gay but only after quitting the English game.
At the I2I Academy, based in York, these 15 to 18-year-olds have a refreshing attitude towards homosexuality within football.
Being honest with himself and his teammates was a huge breakthrough, not only for Keegan, but for rugby league.
The question is, will a footballer be just as brave?