Andy Goode says Gareth Thomas, part of ITV's World Cup squad, is 'immoral' after HIV handling

Andy Goode has criticized Gareth Thomas' ongoing work at ITV Sport as 'immoral'; Photo: David Davies/PA Wire

Andy Goode, the former England international, says it was 'immoral' that he passed on HIV.

The former Wales rugby captain was a regular feature of the channel's World Cup coverage , and he last provided analysis on Sunday as his country thrashed Australia.

However, citing a decided High Court case brought by Ian Baum, Goode, a fellow expert and former Leicester player, wrote in a candid post on X: “It is actually immoral that Gareth Thomas appears on our TV screens.”

Thomas agreed to the settlement in January after it was alleged he failed to take “reasonable steps” to ensure he did not transmit the infection during his on-off relationship with Baum.

Goode added: “Imagine imagine that a straight man does what he did and they will never get another TV appearance.»

Telegraph Sport approached Thomas for comment.

In January, Baum and Thomas expressed satisfaction that their case was resolved.

Baum's lawyers, McCue Jury & Partners said the settlement represents «significant vindication for our client after an eight-year ordeal.»

The claim against Thomas last August was for at least £150,000 and court papers claimed Baum saw Thomas between September 2013 and May 2016. Baum stated that he did not have HIV when the relationship began, and it was alleged that Thomas hid his HIV status.

McQ Jury & The partners added of the claims against Thomas: “These are not only civil infractions, but also criminal offenses.”

However, both BBC Wales and ITV continued to use Thomas as an analyst, being satisfied with his performance. do not violate company rules.

Baum claimed that he witnessed Thomas taking antiviral medications and was told they were vitamin pills. Thomas, however, denied misleading Baum about his HIV-positive status. He also said they didn't have sex for four months after they met because he was «traumatised.»

In announcing the case had been settled, Thomas, a patron of the Terrence Higgins Foundation, wrote in his book, a statement that “paying £75,000 plus legal fees now is nothing compared to the many multiples of that I would have to pay to successfully defend myself in court.”

Thomas said in an interview and in a 2019 BBC documentary that he has HIV. Towards the end of his illustrious playing career, he came out as gay in 2009.