This is the emotional moment Gareth Thomas told fellow Welsh rugby star Shane Williams he’s HIV-positive
The emotional moment airs tonight on the BBC’s Gareth Thomas: HIV and Me. (BBC)
Former Welsh rugby captain Gareth Thomas revealed to his friend and fellow Welsh rugby star Shane Williams that he is HIV-positive, and it was beautiful.
Gareth Thomas: HIV and Me airs on BBC One tonight at 10.35 pm, and follows the gay rugby legend’s journey preparing for the Iron Man triathlon, determined to prove that those living with HIV are not “weak” or “fragile”.
Sitting down with Williams, who was helping him train for Iron Man, Thomas was visibly nervous.
He said: “OK, so, firstly to tee it up… One, I’m telling you because I hugely respect you as a professional but also as an all-round nice guy.
“So, I respect your reaction, I respect who you are, I respect what you have to say. Please just be your self, that’s all I ask, that you be yourself… I have HIV.”
Gareth Thomas at the Ironman Wales finishing line. (Getty)
Shane Williams said Gareth Thomas is “one of the bravest guys” he knows.
Thomas explains how he was forced to publicly disclose his status after a tabloid newspaper found out he had the virus.
Williams said:”“It’s not something I was expecting, I’ve got to be honest.”
After a pause, he continued: “As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t affect anything, as long as you feel that, then nothing changes, pal. I’m glad you’ve told me, I feel honoured.”
He added: “The fact that you’re doing this Iron Man is great, and I think you’ll smash it, but I don’t want you to think that you’ve got to do it to prove any points because I think you’ve already done that.”
Thomas said: “I’m petrified honestly, I’m really afraid of a backlash.”
But, Williams responded: “You’re one of the bravest guys I know. Some of the things you’ve had to do and endure, I take my hat off to you. This is obviously very big, but if someone’s going to get through it, it’s you.”
