Keegan Hirst is a former professional rugby league player whose story extends far beyond the rugby field. Born in Batley, West Yorkshire, he built a long career in the sport before becoming widely recognised in 2015 as the first British professional rugby league player to publicly come out as gay while still playing. Since then, his life has included fatherhood, media work, podcasting, personal training and a major focus on LGBTQ+ wellbeing. More recently, a heart-failure diagnosis has led him to take on a very different challenge: running the London Marathon for the British Heart Foundation.
Quick Bio: Keegan Hirst
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Keegan Hirst |
| Date of birth | 13 February 1988 |
| Birthplace | Batley, West Yorkshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Former professional rugby league player, personal trainer, podcaster |
| Rugby position | Prop |
| Former clubs | Hunslet, Dewsbury, Batley, Featherstone, Wakefield, Halifax |
| Children | Two |
| Former wife | Sara Hirst |
| Former partner | Joel Wood |
| Podcast | Happy Healthy Homo |
| LGBTQ+ work | Gay Man’s Coaching |
| Major milestone | First British professional rugby league player to come out as gay |
Who Is Keegan Hirst?
So, who is Keegan Hirst? He is best known as an English rugby league forward who developed his career through several clubs before reaching Super League level with Wakefield Trinity. He was born and raised in Batley and initially came through the Bradford Bulls academy before entering senior rugby.
His professional career included spells with Hunslet, Dewsbury Rams, Batley Bulldogs and Featherstone Rovers. He later joined Wakefield Trinity, where he played in the Super League, before also spending time with Halifax. Rugby League Project records more than 300 professional appearances across his career, demonstrating the longevity of his time in the sport.
Although rugby established his public profile, his influence became much broader after he spoke openly about his sexuality.
Rugby Career and Retirement
Hirst’s playing career was built around the demanding role of a prop forward. He represented several clubs in the English professional game and became particularly associated with Batley Bulldogs.
His move to Wakefield Trinity gave him an opportunity to compete regularly in the Super League. During his Wakefield career, he also had loan spells in the lower divisions. His physical style and experience made him a valuable forward at different levels of the professional game.
In October 2020, he announced his retirement from rugby league after a career that had lasted roughly two decades. At the time, he had made almost 300 professional appearances for Hunslet, Dewsbury, Batley, Featherstone, Wakefield and Halifax.
Retirement, however, did not mean that rugby disappeared from his life. Hirst later returned to Batley and made further appearances in 2023. His post-playing career also developed around fitness, coaching and public speaking.
Why Did Keegan Hirst Come Out as Gay?
One of the defining moments of his life came in August 2015, when Hirst publicly revealed that he was gay while he was captain of Batley Bulldogs.
The announcement made him the first British professional rugby league player to come out publicly as gay. At the time, he was 27, married and a father of two. He had spent years struggling privately with his sexuality while maintaining an image associated with traditional sporting masculinity.
His decision was significant because rugby league had long been associated with toughness and masculine culture. Hirst later explained that hiding such an important part of himself had become increasingly difficult.
The announcement attracted widespread media attention, but he continued playing almost immediately afterward. His teammates and rugby community largely supported him, helping demonstrate that an openly gay player could continue competing professionally.
Keegan Hirst Wife and Family
Before coming out, Hirst was married to Sara Hirst, and the couple had two children.
Their marriage ended around the period when he came out publicly. The story attracted considerable attention because Hirst’s sexuality had affected not only his own life but also his family. Sara subsequently spoke publicly about the situation and expressed pride in his decision to be honest about who he was.
Hirst has generally kept his children away from unnecessary media attention. They remain an important part of his personal story, particularly because becoming a father was part of the life he had built before publicly coming out.
For readers looking for information about the Keegan Hirst ex wife question, Sara Hirst is the former spouse most commonly identified in contemporary reporting.
Keegan Hirst and Joel Wood
Another important chapter in his personal life involved Joel Wood, a London-based actor and content creator.
Hirst and Joel Wood began their relationship in 2022. Their connection eventually became both personal and professional, leading to the creation of the podcast Happy Healthy Homo.
The pair became known for their relaxed and often humorous conversations about gay relationships, identity, health, dating and everyday life. Their work gave Hirst another platform through which he could discuss subjects that had previously been difficult for him to talk about publicly.
For that reason, searches about Keegan Hirst Joel Wood often relate not only to their relationship but also to their shared podcasting work.
What Happened to Keegan Hirst and Joel Wood?
Hirst and Wood eventually ended their relationship. In January 2026, Wood announced that the couple had decided to separate.
This means older descriptions of Wood as Hirst’s current boyfriend or partner can now be misleading. Their relationship was an important part of Hirst’s recent public life, but they are no longer together.
The pair’s professional association is particularly notable because they created Happy Healthy Homo during their relationship and built an audience around honest conversations about LGBTQ+ life.
Happy Healthy Homo Podcast
Happy Healthy Homo launched in March 2023 with Hirst and Wood as hosts. The podcast was designed around the idea of helping gay men live happier and healthier lives while discussing subjects affecting the wider LGBTQ+ community.
Topics included relationships, dating, coming out, body image, health, sexuality and personal experiences. The show also featured guests and explored lighter subjects alongside more serious discussions.
Apple Podcasts lists the programme as having 76 episodes and being active from 2023 through 2025. Its appeal came partly from the contrast between the hosts’ personalities and backgrounds, as well as their willingness to discuss personal experiences without presenting themselves as perfect role models.
Keegan Hirst’s Health and Heart Failure Diagnosis
In late 2024, Hirst’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.
The diagnosis was particularly shocking because fitness had always been central to his identity. As a former professional rugby player and personal trainer, he had spent much of his life relying on his physical strength and conditioning.
According to his British Heart Foundation fundraising page, his ejection fraction initially fell to 18 percent. Following medication and treatment, it later improved to 45 percent.
Rather than allowing the diagnosis to completely redefine his life, Hirst has focused on adapting to his circumstances and raising awareness about cardiovascular health.
London Marathon and British Heart Foundation
In 2026, Hirst took on one of his most ambitious challenges by preparing to run the London Marathon for the British Heart Foundation.
His motivation is deeply personal. He has explained that he had always wanted to run a marathon but kept postponing it. Following his heart-failure diagnosis, he decided that waiting for the “perfect” time was no longer an option.
The fundraising challenge also allows him to highlight an important message: serious heart conditions can affect people who appear fit and healthy. His story has therefore moved from professional sport and LGBTQ+ representation toward health awareness and resilience.
What Is Keegan Hirst Doing Now?
Today, Hirst’s life is centred less on professional rugby and more on fitness, coaching, media work and advocacy. He has developed work connected with Gay Man’s Coaching and continues to speak about confidence, wellbeing and living authentically.
His journey is unusual because each stage has built on the previous one. Rugby gave him a public platform, coming out turned him into an important figure in LGBTQ+ sport, podcasting expanded his conversations, and his heart diagnosis has given him another reason to discuss health and resilience.
Keegan Hirst Net Worth
There is no verified public figure for Keegan Hirst’s exact net worth. Various celebrity-estimate websites publish different numbers, but these figures are not based on publicly available financial records.
His income has come from several areas over the years, including professional rugby, fitness work, media appearances, podcasting and coaching. Because there is no reliable financial disclosure, claims about a precise net worth should be treated as estimates rather than established fact.
Final Thoughts
Keegan Hirst’s story is ultimately about reinvention. From a Batley rugby league forward to an openly gay professional athlete, podcaster, coach and heart-health campaigner, he has repeatedly entered unfamiliar territory and adapted to major changes in his life. His experiences with family, rugby, Joel Wood, LGBTQ+ representation and serious health challenges make his journey more complicated than a conventional sports biography. For readers of Insider Newz, his story offers a compelling example of how a public figure can continue evolving long after leaving professional sport.
