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Jason Hennessy

Jason is the editor here at RugbyLAD and a proud Limerick man.

Latest posts by Jason Hennessy (see all)

• Ulster Rugby Have Just Shocked The World With A MASSIVE Springbok Signing - September 16, 2021
• World Rugby Consider Rugby World Cup Change That Will Not Go Down Well With Fans - September 15, 2021
• Munster Rugby Announce The Signing Of Super Rugby Hooker - September 14, 2021

Siri?

Former Ireland international Neil Francis was in the spotlight yesterday after a clip surfaced of him making some rather unsavory comments about Lions and Harlequins playmaker, Marcus Smith.

Francis referred to the Lions playmaker, who is of Filipino and British heritage, as having a “David Beckham haircut and an Oompah Loompa tan” during an episode of the Left Wing podcast.

A very special British & Irish Lions House of Rugby show – fronted by Sean O'Brien and Alex Goode – is available now and will run for the duration of the tour. Follow and subscribe to it HERE

Smiths club, Harlequins, said they were “disgusted” by the remarks and said they are awaiting a written reply from the Independent.

“Harlequins is disgusted by racist comments made by Independent.ie columnist Neil Francis on the paper’s rugby podcast, The Left Wing, about Harlequins, England and British and Irish Lions fly-half Marcus Smith on July 14,” a statement read.

And it didn’t take long for his former employers to act, with Francis let go from his position with the newspaper yesterday evening.

But the best reaction of all came from Ireland and Munster’s Simon Zebo, who Tweeted the following.

Never change, Simon.