Gareth Thomas poses for bubble bath photo shoot with boyfriend Ian Baum
Making a splash! Former rugby star Gareth Thomas poses for bubble bath photo shoot with boyfriend Ian Baum and says he wants to spend the rest of his life with him
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He spent years secretly struggling with his sexuality before coming out in 2009.
But Gareth Thomas is feeling better than ever since finding true love with Ian Baum, who he describes as 'the final piece of the jigsaw'.
The former Wales rugby captain - who was married to his teenage sweetheart Jemma from 2001 until 2009 - met Ian, his first ever male partner, online and the pair moved in together after only a month and a half.
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Lather of love: Gareth Thomas and Ian Baum have opened up about their romance for the first time in detail in the new issue of Attitude magazine
The smitten 40-year-old star explained to Attitude magazine: 'It differs massively [to former relationships] because I can be myself, there’s not a part of me lying at all.
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Share'I can be totally and utterly honest with Ian. I had a great relationship with my ex-wife. I know in my heart of hearts that this is probably the rest of my life with Ian.
'I knew deep down when I was lying before in a relationship that it could potentially blow up in my face but with this one it feels like the final piece of the jigsaw.'
'Now my life is complete': The pair say they have never been happier since moving in together
Gareth and Ian, 51, have finally decided to open up about their year-long love, celebrating going public with a magazine shoot.
The pair are seen canoodling in a bubble bath as they strip off for Attitude's Naked Issue.
The sporting legend has confessed he is most attracted to Ian's generous heart and loving personality.
Proud: The star reveals how difficult it was being a gay rugby player in the pages of his new autobiography
He said: 'I can see through the pecs, I can see the abs and everything because he is a solid person but I see him and his heart. The person I love.'
And while they were nervous about what people would think, the pair couldn't be happier after throwing caution to the wind and moving in together almost immediately.
Gareth revealed: 'We’ve been together about a year now. We moved in together after about a month, a month and a half.
'I know so many people gay, or straight, who have regrets and just wish they’d not missed out on something good.
'I don’t want to regret something, I wanted to give it a go. It did seem pretty quick but we’re better than we ever have been after living together for a year.
'We thought, "if it is right to us then b******s to what anyone else thinks." '
Attitude is available to download now and arrives in shops from Wednesday.
Dapper: Fellow Welsh star Luke Evans, who first came out publicly as gay in 2002, has also found love
Meanwhile, it isn't just the former Dancing on Ice star who looks to have found love.
The Sun is reporting that The Hobbit hunk Luke Evans, 35, has fallen for handsome Spanish model Jon Kortajarena.
A source told the paper: 'It's a long-term, serious relationship and Luke is besotted. He loves introducing Jon as his boyfriend.
'Everyone is talking about what a good-looking couple they are.'
Handsome pair: Luke and model Jon Kortajarena are said to be head-over-heels for one another
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