This is Gareth Thomas, the Welsh ‘legend’. I use the word cautiously because today it would appear all you have to do to become a legend is hold a door open for someone. “Fanx, mate, you’re a legend”. But to be a real legend you need a back story. That’s what a legend means. A story. Passed down by word of mouth. Or by the collective archives of the press and tv stations in the case of our Gareth. And embellished along the way.

Because after becoming the first rugby player to reach 100 international caps for Wales he then captained the British Lions twice as well. Few men ever achieve this. Because the Lions only play every 4 years and to be uninjured for two series is rather difficult. To be good enough is something different altogether.

And then, at the near end of his career, this super-tough ultra-man announced to the world that he was gay. Perhaps the toughest and manliest thing he ever did. And, with no intention of slurring any nation, he did this in Wales. To make such an announcement in London, New York, Paris, would reduce it to mere conversation. “Oh, so you’re gay, fine, pass the salt would you?” But Wales is more… more… more ‘provincial’ in attitude, more conservative, more… Welsh. They voted ‘leave’ FFS. Ok, not all of them, but a vocal majority.

If I ever decide I’m gay I shall come out in Los Angeles, where you can shout it from the Hollywood sign and no-one would give a shit. Other than Mel, maybe. I wouldn’t do it in Islamabad, I wouldn’t do it in Riyadh and I wouldn’t do it in Cardiff.

But that’s Gareth’s home town and we all want to feel safe and comfortable in our home towns. Then this weekend Gareth suffered a ‘homophobic attack’. He was attacked by a ‘queer basher’ and battered and bruised, which you can see on the video he posted.

They caught the assailant and, being Gareth Thomas, instead of pressing charges against the 16 year-old, he opted for ‘restorative justice’. What? Yes, I was unenlightened too. I thought it was a euphemism for leaving the little bastard in a locked room with Gareth who could beat the living shit out of the fucker. But its not that. It means that they get to talk to each other about what happened. Which ended with a (presumably sincere) apology from the kid.

And thus the legend of Gareth Thomas just keeps on growing. Always positive, always generous, always a true and proper man.

But I want to meet the kid who attacked him. Gareth Thomas is 6 foot 3 and made of hardened steel. And looks like it. Couldn’t the kid find someone smaller to attack? Wasn’t Tom Daly around that weekend? Wayne Sleep? This 16 year old is either the hardest man in the world, or certifiably insane.

Happy Monday

A xxxx