Neil Francis (rugby union)

Neil Francis

Full name	Neil Patrick Francis
Date of birth	17 March 1964
Place of birth	Dublin, Ireland
Height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight	262 lb (119 kg)[1]
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	lock forward
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
	Leinster
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1987-1996	Ireland	36	20
correct as of 17 February 2014.

Neil Francis is a retired Irish rugby union lock forward and number eight. He played for Blackrock College, London Irish, Old Belvedere, Leinster and won 36 caps between 1987 and 1996 for Ireland.^[2]

Controversy

On February 16, 2014, Francis sparked controversy when he claimed that “gay people do not have any interest in sport” and that “only a tiny percentage are actively involved in professional sports of any kind.”

The player-turned-pundit was speaking on Newstalk's Off the Ball and when asked by presenter Joe Molloy if he believed the percentage of gay people involved in sport was lower than the 10 per cent which is the estimate of the general population who are gay, he said he suspected “that nowhere near 10 per cent. I would say in the smaller margin of 1 per cent.” ^[3]

References

1. "Neil Francis - Rugby Union - Players and Officials - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
2. "Neil Francis - Rugby Union - Players and Officials - ESPN Scrum". ESPN scrum.
3. "Gay people ‘not interested in sport’ claims former rugby player". The Irish Times. 16 February 2014.