Campbell Johnstone

Campbell Johnstone said he was 'living a lie' during his rugby career with the All Blacks and hopes that coming out as gay will help others in a similar ...

In a statement on social media New Zealand CEO Mark Robison said: "Your strength and visibility will pave the way for others in our game. We want to be clear, no matter who you love, rugby has your back." "It slowly starts to affect you and it’s hard living a double life or living a lie. He added: "I did that a long time ago. "My view of an All Black was manly, strong, possibly with a wife and kids. Known as being a powerhouse prop Johnstone played over 100 times for French side Biarritz while also having a brief spell in 2012 with the Ospreys.

New Zealand rugby great Campbell Johnstone hopes to help young athletes accept their sexuality after becoming the first openly gay All Black.

'I did that a long time ago. In a post on social media, the All Blacks praised Johnstone for 'having the courage to share his story and helping create a more inclusive game.' The All Blacks praised Johnstone for having the courage to reveal his sexuality Johnson (left) played 38 times for the Crusaders and won three All Blacks caps in 2005 - The former prop played three Tests for the All Blacks in 2005 Rugby legend Campbell Johnstone becomes the first openly gay All Black after previously only revealing his sexuality to family and teammates

Current All Blacks have praised former prop Campbell Johnstone after he has become the first All Black to publicly come out as gay.

If I open up that door and magically make that closet disappear then we’re going to help a lot of people. It would come to the surface and I may have had a bad game, and I would look at that side of me and blame that for it. Here I was looking in the mirror, haven’t been honest with my teammates; and that puts a lot of pressure on and just builds up on you,” he said. The stronger you are, and if you can make yourself stronger by relieving anxiety and stress, then you can fit that mould. And from one prop to another, ngā mihi Campbell!” I hope it inspires future generations to be open, happy and comfortable. He also believed the team shared his inclusive attitude. I’d pushed that side of me down deeper and deeper; I’ve been to some interesting places with that. Then the public will know that there is one in amongst the All Blacks,” he said. And now with the All Blacks another barrier has been broken. “It’s important to create an inclusive environment in sport at all levels, and that starts at the top. “If I open up that door and magically make that closet disappear, then we’re going to help a lot of people.”

Former New Zealand rugby prop Campbell Johnstone has become the first All Black to publicly come out as gay.

On the advice Johnstone would give to other All Blacks and athletes thinking of coming out, he said, ‘There's no rule or law about coming out. Rather than coming out during his playing career, Johnstone said he pushed his sexuality to the side and admitted that he would blame bad games on being gay. ‘Within myself I was never really comfortable with the concept,’ Johnstone said.

Former All Black player Campbell Johnstone publicly came out as gay on New Zealand television in a first for the national rugby team.

We want to be clear, no matter who you love, rugby has your back," he said in a statement. "We have a phrase in rugby saying after a game if you can look yourself in the mirror and be honest with yourself then you know you have done enough," Johnstone said. "If I can be the first All Black that comes out as gay and take away the pressure, I guess, the stigma surrounding that whole issue then it can actually help other people," Johnstone said in an interview.

The former New Zealand rugby player Campbell Johnstone has become the first All Black to come out as gay, saying he hoped to 'take away the pressure and the ...

“If you can make yourself stronger by relieving anxiety and stress, the you will fit that mould.” But he had kept the matter private during his playing career, leading a “double life” and “living a lie” because his sexuality did not fit with his image of an All Black, he said. “We want to be clear, no matter who you love, rugby has your back.” Johnstone is not New Zealand’s first international rugby player to come out. The former prop played three Tests in 2005 – with his last match against the British and Irish Lions. His vision of a player for the national side, he added, was someone who was “manly, strong…possibly had a wife, kids”, and he blamed his sexuality when he played poorly.

Key points: New Zealand rugby union figures have praised retired All Blacks player Campbell Johnstone's television interview in which he came out as gay ...

I hope it inspires future generations to be open, happy and comfortable. "Now with the All Blacks another barrier has been broken. We want to be clear, no matter who you love rugby has your back," he said in a statement.

Campbell Johnstone's decision is a major step towards visibility of Rainbow community in sport, gay rugby advocates say.

“The first time we were invited into the clubrooms for a drink, you’ve got to understand for a gay man that feels like you're stepping into the lion's den because we thought they were a bunch of homophobic rugby boofheads. It just makes sport so much more inclusive and that to us is super exciting.” Obviously there's been a lot of stigma particularly in rugby in New Zealand around it being overly masculine, and I think that toxic masculinity is slowly diminishing. But equally they thought we were a bunch of fairies and we proved we’re not!” “It goes to show how NZ Rugby is behind promoting rugby as a sport for everyone. And the rugby machine's willing to now support players publicly sharing who they are and what makes them tick,” he said. Rugby's at its best when it's grounded in a sense of family and fellowship, when folk of all stripes feel they belong.” I think Campbell’s kaupapa will help put the spotlight on society’s view of people coming out in sport,” he said. One day we hope no one will bat an eyelid when an All Black embraces his boyfriend after a match to celebrate a hard fought victory,” he said. “It's a very personal decision for an elite rugby player to reveal their full self, especially given the unknowns ahead of them… “Campbell spoke of the force of his idealised vision of an All Black, which then sadly didn't square with being gay. It’s the first time a New Zealand based elite level rugby player has come out.

Last year, the openly gay Tasman chief executive was calling for greater acceptance in rugby. Now a man who he refereed has proved a game-changer.

And it’s almost like a stigma’s been lifted at the very top of our sport, which is brilliant.” The players have always been excellent, I found the player base incredibly supportive.” “I was extremely worried about what some of the reactions would be. Unlike Johnstone, Bray spent his rugby career as openly gay, having come out in the late 1980s just as he was beginning to officiate at rep level. I put my hand on my heart and say I’ve probably had two or three incidents, of which were pretty minor, in that entire time. “There’s no rules around that. That’s why it’s so important for someone to do it. ”And they’re just people you have to accept have a very warped view of the world, and it’s incredibly unlikely that you’re going to change that view and you should just move on. Bray said in a way it was “sad” that people had to step up to pave the way for equality in 2023, “but the reality is, I think it is important that someone has pioneered that step”. [All Black](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks) as openly gay is a huge step for the sport,” Bray said. “It’s the opportunity for that gate to be opened, and for people to feel confident to walk through. [highlighting the need for greater acceptance in the rugby community](https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/128653302/road-to-acceptance-lyndon-bray-says-its-time-to-talk-about-being-a-gay-man-in-rugby#:~:text=Bray%20rose%20to%20national%20prominence,equally%20proud%20of%20his%20husband.), Lyndon Bray is full of praise for the bold and brave decision of Campbell Johnstone.