The retired second row, who's known for making controversial statements, has caused outrage with his latest claim.
Former Leinster player Neil Francis has caused controversy with his latest Sunday Independent column, claiming that rugby is Ireland's national game.
The Dublin-native, who played for Blackrock College before being called up to Leinster, professed his belief of this statement to be true in a
Sunday Independent column published this weekend.
"I look around and see what is happening and I see what the kids are interested in, I see the national interest, I see the television figures, I see the sell-out crowds and the evidence of the sustained and broad appeal and it suggests strongly to me that rugby suits the Irish psyche and its attraction and success have more than just caught the imagination," he wrote.
"We are now following suit with New Zealand in welcoming it as our national game."
He ends the piece with nods to his alma maters Blackrock College and Leinster, while also giving private schools Belvedere College and Glenstal Abbey a hat-tip in the process.
"The conveyor belt continues to produce phenomenal quality for Leinster and this year's semi-finalists will undoubtedly produce at least half a dozen prime candidates for Leinster's already overflowing extended squads," Francis wrote.
"Congratulations to my Alma mater Blackrock College on a stunning first half of rugby in the final. Congrats to Belvedere, worthy champions over the last two seasons. Special congratulations to Glenstal on winning the Munster senior schools championship - an incredible achievement. There is a story in that one."
While Ireland's rugby fans are still buzzing from the high of winning the Grand Slam, the column was widely accepted to be tone-deaf, socio-economically naive and misrepresentative of the wealth of genuine national sports that Ireland boasts.
Sports fans took to Twitter to contradict the opinionated columnist's opinion, reminding the former rugby player of the array of other sports currently being played at high levels in the country.
https://twitter.com/YouBoysInGreen/status/978015095501541376
https://twitter.com/BrianJAFlannery/status/977881850990522368
https://twitter.com/kenmcgrath78/status/978020956382924807
https://twitter.com/ParaicCollins/status/978011000548024320
https://twitter.com/PaulOBrienKil/status/978040159034847239
https://twitter.com/MicTuohy/status/978213879502295040
https://twitter.com/daithi_regan/status/977990169830871042
Francis' column claims that rugby has the edge over GAA in the way that it boasts an international element.
"Watch how many Irish people turn up in Australia for the three-match series in June. No longer a focal point for the diaspora. Ireland travel to win this summer. A major attraction," he wrote.
"The international rules series? Give me a break! How many travelled to Chicago in November 2016? A sea of green in Soldier Field."
This isn't the first time Francis has made a controversial statement based around his beliefs of the game.
Back in February 2014,
he 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."
