Neil Francis on off the ball

freyners

Not quite sure if this is covered by the no politics part of the charter, if so mods feel free to close.

Neil Francis has kicked up a bit of a storm on off the ball by suggesting Gay people dont play sport because "its not their environment" and implying not too many hairdressers are heterosexuals. He also implied that rugby itself is homophobic and made a lot of offensive stereotypes throughout the program. The discussion in question was about gay athletes in general, such as Donal Óg Cusack and the Sochi Olympics.

Personally I think its a bad message to be sending out to players of any code, especially in rugby since it is a former Leinster and Ireland player who has made them. Considering rugby has its fair share of gay players, most noticeably Gareth Thomas internationally and the Emerald Warriors. I have never had to experience a dressing room where this type of discrimination was present, having played with a very openly gay player for a couple of years. I don't think comments like Francis's help players in this type of situation and perpetuates a stereotype of rugby in general

The comments start at 12:30 here http://newstalk.ie/player/listen_back/10/7773/16th_February_2014_-_Off_The_Ball_Part_2

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

As i said on the other thread, it's idiotic utterings like this that will drive young gay men away from the sport

Oh and Franno, if gay people aren't "manly enough" for rugby how does it explain Gareth Thomas far surpassing anything you ever did on a rugby field? Gareth Thomas – As a Rugby Union player he got 100 caps for Wales, 40 tries; 3 caps for British and Irish Lions, 1 try. As a Rugby League player he got 4 caps for Wales and 3 tries. That sounds just about as manly as you can get.

molloyjh

Crazy stuff. End of. Very disappointing from someone I would have thought better of. No excuse in this day and age.

[Jackass]

Neil Francais is not known for his ability to think with an iota of intelligence. He's as lazy and useless as a journo as he was as a player. Always the fat kid trying to make it to the next ruck, but never quite achieving it. Sadly, he achieved a number of Irish caps during the darkest and worst period in Irish rugby history in over 100 years (the 90's!) and that has given him a platform to spout this nonsense.

Why on earth would he single out sexuality and bring it into the context of rugby? What has it got to do with anything?

He is just extending the elitist, ignorant stereotype that surrounders "rugger buggers" and as usual, is an embarrassment to the sport.

Grimebox

It always boggles my mind how anybody thinks sexual orientation has any bearing on anything other than sexual orientation

Swan Curry

I've listened to it again,and I've made a few notes about what Francis says:

• He says he noticed Michael Sam because he was flamboyant - He's pretty clearly drawing on a stereotype of gay men here.
• The 'hairdressing industry' joke - Massively ignorant,once again stereotyping.
• Gay people are not interested in sport/What are their interests? - Gay people aren't a collective,we don't all come together to decide what we're interested in.
• All his gay friends he knows who aren't interested in sport - Has he never asked them why they're not interested?Of course with all the hairdressing they're doing they probably don't have much time for sport.
• (Referring to Michael Sam again)Why is this news? - It's pretty clear why the first openly gay player in the NFL possibly not being wanted by a number of teams because he's gay is news.
• He's a self-publicist - He said something like this twice during the segment,and I really hope he's not trying to imply Sam's decision to come out was a 'career move' .

What really disappoints me about his comments is that the vast majority of rugby players and fans are very tolerant of others,whether it's sexuality,race or anything else.I've had so many more positive experiences through rugby than negative ones and I'd hate to think that someone wouldn't want to play rugby because they heard what Neil Francis said.

finatron

my god that was hard to listen too did some one retune my car radio to 1954 . I stopped reading his column some time ago because I always thought he was bit of a moron but now he as just confirmed my opinion.
He's anecdote about the Hairdresser's was the best part !:eek:

Benny Cake

This could be the last we hear from franno (Ron Atkinson anyone?)

Good riddance....

GiftofGab

What an idiot. He's really damaging his career here. If anything rugby is one of the most accepting team sport there is. Compared to other sports I dont see the rugby community having any issues what so ever with people coming out. I've played against the Emerald Warriors and nobody had an issue with them.

Just goes to show he's lack of intelligence:
Neil: There's not many gay people at all playing rugby.
Newstalk: Do you not think that there are some but they just havn't openly admited it yet.
Neil: No.
How would he know.

Hippo

Not surprising, he's always sounded like an idiot. It is however, a new low.

ProudDUB

[Jackass] wrote: »

Neil Francais is not known for his ability to think with an iota of intelligence. He's as lazy and useless as a journo as he was as a player. Always the fat kid trying to make it to the next ruck, but never quite achieving it. Sadly, he achieved a number of Irish caps during the darkest and worst period in Irish rugby history in over 100 years (the 90's!) and that has given him a platform to spout this nonsense.

Why on earth would he single out sexuality and bring it into the context of rugby? What has it got to do with anything?

He is just extending the elitist, ignorant stereotype that surrounders "rugger buggers" and as usual, is an embarrassment to the sport.

The comments were made in a wider discussion about an article Joe Brolly wrote this weekend about the Cork hurler Donal Og Cusack. Cusack came out as gay several years ago. Brolly said that we as a nation are not as tolerant as we think we are, seeing as Cusack is still the only Irish athlete to come out and, that no one else since has felt comfortable enough to do so. Eugene McGee said that as Cusack is such a strong person in general, it was probably easier for him to come out, than it would be for the average athlete. That's when it all kicked off with Franno.

[Jackass]

Benny Cake wrote: »

This could be the last we hear from franno (Ron Atkinson anyone?)

Good riddance....

If only...

Well, if it was a reaction he was looking for, he's certainly achieved it...

http://www.joe.ie/news/current-affairs/twitter-reacts-angrily-after-neil-francis-claims-gay-men-dont-play-sport-because-its-too-manly/

The things some people do in desperation to remain relevant...

Rightwing

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

efb

One too many big hits methinks... Iona should sign him up

efb

Rightwing wrote: »

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

Gareth Thomas???

wp_rathead

Rightwing wrote: »

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

Care to Elaborate?

Rightwing

efb wrote: »

Gareth Thomas???

The bit about the Russian olympics, I agree with him on that.

Hippo

'Politically correct'. Or just 'correct'. That's civilization for you.

finatron

Rightwing wrote: »

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

I couldn't disagree more he was 100% incorrect about everything he said

Pudsy33

Rightwing wrote: »

The bit about the Russian olympics, I agree with him on that.

You won't watch the Olympics because people are unhappy with the treatment of gay people in Russia?

Whippersnapper

He's also ignorant about the NFL which he claims to follow. He was unaware that the draft has yet to happen. Even the most fairweather of NFL fans would know that. Also, ALL NFL players "flamboyantly" celebrate their moves whether it's a tackle or a touchdown. Michael Sam is no different in that respect.

I had a quick scan through my male gay friends on facebook (quite a few) and there's not a single hairdresser but plenty of rugby and soccer fans. Oh and my hairdresser is male and straight. :cool:

Heroditas

efb wrote: »

Gareth Thomas???

One single solitary player.
Can people name more?

Pudsy33

Heroditas wrote: »

One single solitary player.
Can people name more?

I'm sure there are plenty more, but they may be unhappy to come out due to the homophobic attitudes Francis alluded to.

Whippersnapper

Did he imply that players should hide their sexuality as it wasn't necessary for everyone to know? Like, imagine telling a straight person to hide the fact they have a partner, that nobody needs to know etc. Baffling.

vkid

Can't believe he actually came out with that rubbish on national radio. Tosser.

petebricquette

Rightwing wrote: »

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

Oh for the love of... Are you really using the 'political correctness gone mad' line on something like this? Francis's attitude is everything that is wrong with the macho culture built around sports like rugby and American football. Gay rights, marriage etc. are hot-button issues for almost every western country right now. It's been proven that people who have gay friends or even watch TV featuring a gay person are more amenable to gay marriage.

Would it be so terrible for one of our own provincial or international players to come out? No. Of course not. In fact, it would be a huge boost to gay rights advocates in this country. It would also encourage more young lads who are passionate about rugby and gay to take up the sport.

Like it or not, there is still a terrible stigma attached to homosexuality in Ireland and Francis should know better than to voice his bigoted, homophobic opinions on-air.

ProudDUB

Rightwing wrote: »

A lot of what he says is probably true, but in the politically correct world we live in today, best keep quiet on such matters.

Hi Neil.

freyners

ProudDUB wrote: »

Hi Neil.

Doubt its Francis, last time he was spotted on the right wing it was for arriving at a ruck that happened 3 phases ago

Molester Stallone

Who knows, perhaps Francis is suppressing his own latent feelings .....does he still go on about Madigans wonderful hair?

awec

I don't think this is the best place to have this discussion. Closing it but will speak with the other mods.

justsomebloke

freyners wrote: »

He also implied that rugby itself is homophobic and made a lot of offensive stereotypes throughout the program.

Ah cock, why didn't anyone tell me before I got into it. Suppose I'll have to change the avatar.

justsomebloke

just copying my answer from the off topic thread as to why this will stay closed

Deleted User wrote: »

Can we discuss Franno's narrow mindedness yet

No, the debate itself is better suited to humanities.

Yes Francis has spun it briefly into a topic about Rugby however this seems like an ill judged ploy to make himself relevant and I don't see the need for us to be giving him a platform.

The problem with this topic is that the 'debate' can often lead to alot of opinions that could leave a subset of our community ill at ease and uncomfortable which isn't on. We on the rugby forum have refused to allow people with similar prejudices against women and other minorities a platform here, so we will do the same in this case.

The Boards Rugby forum is open to EVERYONE and shouldn't be a place where anyone should feel uncomfortable.