France rugby team to support Gareth Thomas with rainbow laces after attack

Credit: Twitter/Gareth Thomas

France's national rugby team will wear rainbow laces on Saturday in support of Gareth Thomas following an assault in Cardiff.

The former Wales captain was the victim of a homophobic attack last Saturday.

The French players will make the gesture during their Test against Fiji in Paris.

French Rugby Federation vice-president Serge Simon said in a tweet: "Dear Gareth Thomas, all French Rugby is with you."

Gareth Thomas has tweeted his heartfelt thanks for the support he's received since the assault and thanked the French Rugby Federation.

But the former rugby star says the mental scars from being assaulted by a 16-year-old boy in Cardiff city centre 'will stay with him for some time'.

Footballers have been wearing rainbow laces since 2013. Credit: PA

The rainbow laces campaign started when gay rights group Stonewall asked footballers in England and Scotland to wear them in 2013.

Thomas played in France between 2004 and 2007 for Toulouse.