Gareth Thomas Exclusive Interview

I have lots of fears; you’ll never see me on I’m a Celebrity

While under lockdown restrictions in his Bridgend, Wales home Gareth Thomas, 46, isn’t letting the current health pandemic slow him down. Last month he was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to health and sport. A well-deserved accolade for the first openly gay rugby player who has spent the past decade championing equality and inclusion and he now feels ‘proud’ his work has been recognised. Already an inspiration to many, in 2019 he spoke publicity about living with HIV for the first time and has fought tirelessly to reduce the stigma and discrimination that remains around the virus.

Also, last month the former Welsh captain was announced as the newest patron of leading HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust. And, it’s through his HIV activism work that Gareth became close to Prince Harry ‘when he first texted me, I thought it was bonkers, but now I text him as much as he texts me. It says everything about him that he is willing to be friends with somebody from Bridgend. We are good friends because he cares, like I do, about creating a better society where people don’t have to fight for equality.’ Says Gareth.

In his latest crusade the sportsman is fronting an ‘end fuel poverty’, campaign for…