Gareth Thomas hit the headlines yesterday by announcing that he was gay and although the revelation caused a stir on the front and back pages it appeared not to register too highly on the Richter Scale. But should we be alarmed or encouraged by this reaction? On one hand it is pleasing to know that some do not consider his sexuality to be a major issue but on the other hand wider coverage of the issue would surely help lay the foundation for others to follow his lead.

The Welsh legend's decision to come 'out' brought the subject of his homosexuality into the public domain after it had been an open secret within the game for some time. And although he is the first high-profile player to break the taboo and admit to being gay, the general reaction has been 'so what?' and so it should be. It should not and will not make a difference to the way he plays or is treated - apart from the odd idiot - he is just a player who happens to be gay.

The fact that the 'exclusive' appeared on the front pages of the Daily Mail rather than the back pages suggests that the story would be more revelatory to 'middle England' rather than those closer to the game. "What I choose to do when I close the door at home has nothing to do with what I have achieved in rugby," he said defiantly and quite rightly.

Wales' most-capped player and a former British & Irish Lions captain, Thomas revealed that he knew he was gay when he was 16 but it was not until the summer of 2006 that the 35-year-old chose to stop living a double life. His marriage was breaking down and he, "just couldn't ignore it any more."

Despite the widespread confidence that rugby as a sport would take the announcement in its stride, it remains a brave decision from Thomas when the easier decision may have been to wait for his impending retirement - but to suggest such would make light of the personal torment he has suffered.

"It is the toughest, most macho of male sports, and with that comes an image," Thomas told the newspaper. "In many ways, it is barbaric, and I could never have come out without first establishing myself and earning respect as a player."

Although Thomas feels attitudes have changed in recent years it is unlikely that a rising star today in any sport would be brave enough to be openly gay. The time may well have come for sport in general to start accepting openly gay people in the same way other professions do but it is not going to change overnight. Here, rugby may well take the lead and in doing so heap pressure on football and the leading American sports to embrace the issue too.

Statistically he can't be the only one, and there are no doubt others in the international game known to their team-mates and coaches, but time will tell if they feel able to follow the Welshman's lead. Until more players take that step stories such as Thomas' will continue to make headlines because it is not even half-time in this particular battle.