Nick McCarthy rugby

His Blues team-mates 'erupted' when he told them and Leo Cullen believes the 27-year-old can be a role model to others.

"I’m so much happier than I was a few months ago and I’m optimistic for the future. “Everyone was happy that I could tell them and they could be there for me. We spend so much time together, and I now feel very comfortable in this environment being myself. But I just remember the room erupting! "In many other professions you may not feel the need to discuss your sexuality. "I’m lucky to have grown up in a loving environment. They were all delighted for me and it was immediately a weight off my shoulders. “But I’m really happy that I did it. “In turn, I feel if I can now help others come out in professional sport or in their everyday lives and make being gay more normal and not a thing to be worried about, then that is a positive. "My friends have been unbelievable in helping me to accept that I am gay and to help me embrace that part of my life now. "They helped and guided me over the months that followed so that I felt more comfortable to come out to the group. I struggled with coming out for a while and it was starting to impact on me and my happiness so it was the right decision.

Nick McCarthy is hopeful that his coming out will act as a positive for others. He paid tribute to his teammates and all at the club for being so ...

"I came out to my teammates in January and I was obviously pretty nervous about doing so, but I’m really happy that I did it," he said. It’s hard to perform at your best when you are carrying something, anything, and that’s the same for all the lads. Leinster star Nick McCarthy has publicly come out, through his club, as being gay.

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy has spoken publicly about his sexuality for the first time, the 27-year-old saying he contemplated retiring from rugby ...

So doing what’s in your heart, I guess, so we are pleased that Nick has been able to come out with this news so he can start being more comfortable just being himself." I’m so much happier than I was a few months ago and I’m optimistic for the future." They were all delighted for me and it was immediately a weight off my shoulders. They helped and guided me over the months that followed so that I felt more comfortable to come out to the group. I have realised that anyone who cares about you, just wants you to be happy. "But I'm really happy that I did it.

Leinster scrum-half Nick McCarthy says he contemplated quitting professional rugby as he did not feel he could come out as gay while still playing.

"It's hard to perform at your best when you are carrying something, anything, and that's the same for all the lads. "Leinster Rugby is built on 'brotherhood' and it's important that we can be open and honest with each other. "In some ways, nothing has changed, which is great. "It affected me so much that I agonised over my future and contemplated walking away from rugby altogether because I just didn't think I could come out while playing rugby. "I struggled with coming out for a while and it was starting to impact on me and my happiness so it was the right decision," McCarthy told Leinster's website. "I agonised over my future and contemplated walking away from rugby altogether because I just didn't think I could come out while playing rugby," says McCarthy; scrum-half came out publicly on Monday having told Leinster coaches in November and team-mates in January