A post shared by Keegan Hirst (@keeganhirst) on Keegan Hirst, who made history as the UK’s first openly gay professional rugby player, has announced he will retire at the end of this season.Hirst joined the pro league back in 2008 when he landed a spot playing for the Bradford Bulls.
He’s circulated throughout the league since, landing stints with the Dewberry Rams, Hunslet Hawks, Featherstone Rovers and Wakefield Trinity.
Now 32, Hirst has said he will leave the league for greener pastures.“So, I’ve decided to retire from rugby league, the game that has been part of my life for the last 20 years,” Hirst said in a statement, posted to Twitter. “It’s with a touch of sadness, a hell of a lot of memories, and a hell of a lot of gratitude that.