Former Cardiff wing Lomu, who currently plays for Marseille in France, is hoping Thomas’ announcement has set a positive precedent for rugby and sport as a whole.

“I hope it does (encourage others to feel comfortable about coming out),” said Lomu.

“The more it is brought to light the easier it will be for people.

“It is brave of him and I’m sure it will have been eating him up inside. He’s made the decision to come out and the man’s happy.

“Anyone who has played rugby will know that it will not have been an easy decision to make.

“Whether you come out or not is an individual’s decision. If that’s the way you are and that’s the way you’re made up, you can’t do anything about it.

“Rugby players shouldn’t be judged on that, they should be judged on being rugby players.”

Speaking at the Global Sports Forum in Barcelona, Lomu also backed Riki Flutey’s decision to play for England even though the Brive centre played in New Zealand’s triumphant Under-19 World Cup campaign in 1999.

New Zealand-born Flutey qualified to play for England on residency grounds last year, and Lomu believes Flutey’s performances for the national team since then have proved his decision was correct.

“He felt he was an England player, and I think he’s done justice to his decision by the way he’s played,” said Lomu.

“When he comes back to New Zealand he’ll obviously be on the receiving end of some ’ribbing’.

“I don’t have a problem with it at all. It’s actually a good way of spreading the word (of rugby) around the world.

“If a country deems someone to be the best player available in that position, so be it.”