Skip to main content

Home Culture Culture Sexuality

5 December 2019

Rugby referee Craig Maxwell-Keys speaks publicly about his sexuality in candid interview

"Rugby is a sport for everyone, irrespective of who you love"

By Steve Brown

Words: Steve Brown

England professional rugby referee Craig Maxwell-Keys has spoken publicly about his sexuality in a candid interview in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign.

Over the years, rugby has seen a number of players and referees come out as LGBTQ – including Keegan Hirst and Nigel Owens – and now, Craig Maxwell-Keys, who started his career as a rugby player but turned to refereeing after sustaining an injury, has opened up about his own sexuality in a powerful interview. 

Speaking to Rugby Media, Craig, who is also a chemistry graduate, said: “The Rainbow Laces campaign brings back into the headlines stories about Nigel Owens and Sam Stanley, their coming out stories, which, while I was in the closet, were a source of support, comfort.

“It made it really clear to me, while I was struggling to accept who I was, that you could be part of an elite sport, it’s not about who you love, it’s about how good you are.

“And that message resonated with me massively. I thought I was ready to come out probably two years into my pharmaceutical job and then literally as I was preparing the job offer came up here.

“I very quickly realised that I hadn’t fully accepted it myself and that you cannot ask someone to love you if you don’t love yourself.

“Another two years down the line, I got to that point. I came out just before I went to Manchester for the under 20s World Championships so I told friends and family before I headed there.

“I had a really successful tournament actually, and then in terms of telling the refs here and the rest of my friends, it was 6am at an airport about to go to Greece for a family holiday, I pinged a WhatsApp message out. Turned the phone off for about eight hours.

“After a few two many wines in Greece, I turned it back on and the reaction was very positive to say the least.

“I certainly forgot personally how much effort it was to keep up that false pretence. You spend a lot of energy thinking what story have I told that person, what’s the name of this imaginary girlfriend that I’m seeing.

“And what that weight is lifted, you can truly be you and be authentically you. You can enjoy life. That energy I spent living a lie can now be reinvested in me being me and that was truly liberating.”

Craig ends his candid interview with a powerful statement and said: “Rugby is a sport for everyone irrespective of who you love, gender, religion. All it really cares about is you enjoying yourself and expressing yourself through the medium of rugby.”

Watch the full interview below: