The former Hull FC prop has come out in an emotional and powerful interview.
Former Hull FC prop Kane Evans has come out as gay and has revealed a 20-year battle with his sexuality.
Former Hull FC prop Kane Evans has come out as gay and has revealed he wanted to ‘top himself’ amid a 20-year internal battle regarding his sexuality.
Evans, who played for the Black and Whites in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, is just the second former or current NRL player to come out as gay after Ian Roberts did so more than 30 years ago.
The front-row forward, now 34, played over 150 NRL games for the Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, and New Zealand Warriors before moving to the Black and Whites.
And now Evans, who has recently turned his life around after battling drugs and sleeping rough since returning to Australia, has spoken of his personal pain – one he has lived with since he was 15 years old.
Speaking on 100% Footy on Australia’s Channel Nine network, Evans said: “I had three goals in life: to play NRL, to buy my parents a house, and then I wanted to top myself, because I was living in denial from a young age.
“I know that I’m gay, but I went down every other avenue to sort of build up these walls. To be someone, to escape who I am.
“I still can’t believe that I’m here talking to you. This is definitely my worst nightmare. But I know if I surrender, it’s just going to be a start to a new life.
“I’ve been fighting a war within since I was about 15 years old and it’s not sustainable. I was sleeping in parks, doing drugs, trying to ultimately pass away so I didn’t have to come to this.
“But I know that there are people who are struggling with the same struggle that I’ve gone through. So I’m very blessed that I can come here and talk to you and be able to save a life or two.”
Evans recently spoke of his battles with drugs and sleeping rough in Sydney parks, but he has turned his life around, renting a house and returning to bush rugby league last month.
The former Hull prop credited Joe Galuvao, who is now a manager with the RLPA’s past players and transition programme, for helping him, along with his former Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
Evans explained: “Joe said, ‘You deserve to live a good life and you deserve healing.’ I sat there and thought about what a good life or healing was.
“When he said that, that’s when I started questioning, maybe death isn’t in the plan for me yet. Maybe I do deserve to go and get help. I thank God that he came and visited me and got me into rehab with the help of the RLPA.
“And then somehow Robbo got my number. He called me just to let me know that the Roosters are still my home and they’ve got my back, whatever I’m facing. That meant the world to me. He took me, my best friend, and one of my mentors to Roosters HQ a week after I got out of rehab.
“He gave them the full tour and took us into his office and virtually told me that the Roosters are paying for my mental health. Robbo, out of his own money, paid four weeks of my rent, as I had just gotten into a place that week.”
On his sexuality, Evans added: “I’ve carried it around my whole life. I’m here today to show people that you don’t have to live like that. Even now I feel a bit more free; just by saying it out loud, I’ve brought it to the light.
“I’ve had people blackmail me. I’ve had people try to throw me under the bus; I’ve had people try to deflect their problems by trying to out me. And it just built up a lot of shame and fear and guilt within myself.
“Now I’ve spoken about it; I’ve shattered all those chains. They’ve lost their power. I feel like coming and speaking to you today, fear, shame, guilt – all of that. I’ve cut ties with all that.
“I feel peace within, and I feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders. I’m a bit proud of myself and when I look in the mirror, I’m going to smile now, not have those bad thoughts.”