Italy's rugby team don rainbow laces for Welsh legend
The Local Italy - [email protected]
Published: 24 Nov, 2018 CET.
Updated: Sat 24 Nov 2018 12:32 CET
Italy's rugby team will wear rainbow laces during Saturday's game against New Zealand in support of former Wales captain Gareth Thomas.
Ahead of their meet in Rome, the Italian rugby federation tweeted that the move was "a gesture of solidarity" with the player.
? Oggi in occasione del Cattolica Test Match #ITAvNZL a Roma gli Azzurri #Italrugby e gli @AllBlacks indosseranno speciali lacci arcobaleno come gesto di solidarietà a Gareth Thomas, leggenda del rugby gallese vittima di un attacco omofobico #rainbowlaces pic.twitter.com/ZmeBapZyJk
— Italrugby (@Federugby) November 24, 2018
The #RainbowLaces for #ITAvNZL were handed over by @KXSteelers Michael Yeldir to @Federugby team manager Gino Toiani and @AllBlacks @Tj_Perenara ahead of today’s clash in Rome. ?️? pic.twitter.com/6FIkZEbsP2
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) November 24, 2018
Wales, who face Fiji, and France, who play South Africa, have already said their players will be wearing rainbow laces during their games on Saturday.
England, who play Australia, said they may not be able to join the effort because the rainbow laces do not fit into their boots.
Former Wales captain Thomas, 44, who came out as gay in 2009, posted a video on Twitter on November 18 saying he had been a victim of a hate crime in Cardiff "for my sexuality".
Police dealt with a 16-year-old boy using restorative justice following a request by Thomas, who wanted to send a "positive message".
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) November 18, 2018
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Ahead of their meet in Rome, the Italian rugby federation tweeted that the move was "a gesture of solidarity" with the player.
? Oggi in occasione del Cattolica Test Match #ITAvNZL a Roma gli Azzurri #Italrugby e gli @AllBlacks indosseranno speciali lacci arcobaleno come gesto di solidarietà a Gareth Thomas, leggenda del rugby gallese vittima di un attacco omofobico #rainbowlaces pic.twitter.com/ZmeBapZyJk
— Italrugby (@Federugby) November 24, 2018
The #RainbowLaces for #ITAvNZL were handed over by @KXSteelers Michael Yeldir to @Federugby team manager Gino Toiani and @AllBlacks @Tj_Perenara ahead of today’s clash in Rome. ?️? pic.twitter.com/6FIkZEbsP2
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) November 24, 2018
Wales, who face Fiji, and France, who play South Africa, have already said their players will be wearing rainbow laces during their games on Saturday.
England, who play Australia, said they may not be able to join the effort because the rainbow laces do not fit into their boots.
Former Wales captain Thomas, 44, who came out as gay in 2009, posted a video on Twitter on November 18 saying he had been a victim of a hate crime in Cardiff "for my sexuality".
Police dealt with a 16-year-old boy using restorative justice following a request by Thomas, who wanted to send a "positive message".
— Gareth Thomas (@gareththomas14) November 18, 2018
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