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British Rugby League professional Keegan Hirst says he struggled to "admit" he is gay.

The Batley Bulldogs captain said drinking provided escapism from "urges" that he "thought would go away".

"I couldn't say to myself in my own head - you're gay," said Hirst. "To say it out loud would be to admit it - I wasn't in a place in my own head where I could do that."

"I can't say there was a eureka moment where one day I woke up and thought 'I'm alright with this' but I suppose I became more accepting of it in my own head," he added.

This clip is originally from 5 live Daily on Monday August 17 2015.