Emma Watson Shows Support For First Openly Gay British Rugby League Player

Emma Watson has taken to Twitter to praise rugby player Keegan Hirst for coming out as gay.

The campaign of the Batley Bulldogs came out earlier this week, making him the first professional rugby league player to come out as gay.

Emma Watson took to Twitter to praise Keegan's strength in taking this step. "Courage is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty or intimidation." She added: "... Physical courage is courage in the face of physical pain, hardship, death or threat of death."

She continued: "while moral courage is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal or discouragement. @KeeganHirst #gotboth." Her final tweet said: "what a hero."

In return, Keegan tweeted his support for Emma's HeForShe campaign: "As a #HeForShe, I'm committed to #genderequality. I invite you to stand with me. @HeForShe."

Keenan said in an interview with the BBC: "I don’t want to go on some kind of crusade, but I hope to pave the way for others to come out and feel comfortable in their own skin, and by doing this, hopefully make others feel better about being open about who they are."