Ex-England rugby player Andy Goode says it's 'immoral' for Gareth Thomas to be on ITV's World Cup coverage after Wales legend agreed a £75,000 settlement with an ex-partner who accused him of infecting him with HIV
- In January, Thomas agreed to pay £75,000 to a former partner who accused him of 'deceptively' transmitting HIV to him
- Thomas said at the time the payment was 'not an admission of liability or guilt'
- Goode tweeted: 'Imagine a straight man doing what he did, they wouldn't get another TV gig ever'
Former England rugby player Andy Goode believes it is 'immoral' Gareth Thomas is part of ITV's Rugby World Cup coverage.
In January, former Wales rugby captain Thomas agreed to pay £75,000 to a former partner who accused him of 'deceptively' transmitting HIV to him.
Ian Baum alleged Thomas hid his HIV status and 'failed to take reasonable care' to ensure he didn't pass it on.
Thomas said at the time the payment was 'not an admission of liability or guilt', adding 'I maintain my innocence in all the meritless allegations.'
Thomas, 49, was part of the punditry team on ITV for Wales's 40-6 win over Australia in the group stage of the Rugby World Cup.
During the coverage, Goode wrote on X: 'It's actually immoral that Gareth Thomas is on our TV screens, imagine a straight man doing what he did, they wouldn't get another TV gig ever.'
Former England rugby player Andy Goode (left) said it's 'immoral' Gareth Thomas (right) is on ITV's World Cup coverage after the ex-Wales captain paid £75,000 to a former partner who accused him of hiding his HIV positive status
Thomas (right) is part of ITV's punditry team for the ongoing Rugby World Cup in France
Goode posted on X that it's 'actually immoral' Thomas is on the coverage and suggested had he been straight he 'wouldn't get another TV gig ever' after the settlement
Goode had a few minutes earlier called for less of Thomas during the Wales vs Australia coverage on ITV
The post had gained almost 1,700 likes and over 100 retweets at the time of writing. Goode has 106,700 followers on the social media platform.
15 minutes earlier, Goode posted: 'No Gareth Thomas, more Sam Warburton and George Gregan please' in reference to the other ITV pundits on the broadcast.
In court papers filed last year, Baum claimed he had a relationship with Thomas, between 2013 and 2016, and that he was HIV negative when the relationship began.
It was alleged he only found out Thomas had HIV when he saw a GSK1 tablet - the antiviral HIV medication - and he then tested positive for the virus.
Thomas, who became the first openly gay rugby player when he came out in 2009, announced in an interview and BBC documentary in 2019 that he was carrying HIV.
Thomas has worked extensively for LGBT charities and is a patron of HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust.
He has said previously: 'Many people live in fear and shame of having HIV, but I refuse to be one. We need to break the stigma.'
Thomas has been a part of ITV's coverage of the Rugby World Cup for the past four tournaments.
Goode pictured during his playing days with Wasps in 2014