UK rugby star Gareth Thomas has weighed in on San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver's anti-gay remarks.

Thomas, who retired from rugby in 2011 following an injury, publicly announced he is gay in 2009. The 38-year-old Welshman's coming out inspired other professional athletes to come out, including English cricketer Steven Michael Davies and Swedish footballer (European soccer) Anton Hysen.

Appearing on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, Thomas was asked his thoughts on Culliver's remarks made just days before the Super Bowl.

“No, we don't got no gay people on the team,” the 24-year-old Culliver said. “You know, they gotta get up out of here if they do. Can't be with that sweet stuff.”

“Like, first of all how does he know, like 100 percent, that he doesn't have any gay team members. He doesn't know,” Thomas said. “I just find it amazing that people actually still think that way.”

Thomas called it “magical” that the 49ers condemned Culliver's comments.

“To me environments are made easier when they start at the top,” he said. (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)