Welsh rugby star Gareth Thomas has announced that he is HIV positive.

The retired sporting star made the announcement in a video post revealing that people had tried to blackmail him over his status, and a newspaper had sent reporters to his parent’s house as they investigated his status.

Thomas made history in 2009 when he was one of the few British sporting stars to share that he was gay. Thomas said he was making his status public so to help fight the stigma that surrounds HIV.

The retired rugby player also shared that he has been happily married to his husband for several years and prefers to keep his personal life low-key.

HIs decision to go public with his status has been widely praised, while there has been condemnation for the journalists who forced him to make his declaration.

OIP Staff