Lions hit out at 'racist' Neil Francis comment as former Ireland international sacked by Indo

'Harlequins is disgusted by racist comments made by Independent.ie columnist Neil Francis on the paper’s rugby podcast'

British & Irish Lions fly-half Marcus Smith was the subject of a controversial remark from Neil Francis. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Media pundit and former international rugby player Neil Francis has been sacked by Irish Independent publisher Mediahuis Ireland after he made offensive comments on a podcast about Harlequins, England and Lions fly-half Marcus Smith.

Francis’s comments were met with fierce disapproval on social media platforms and also drew the ire of both the British & Irish Lions and Harlequins, whom Smith, 20, helped guide to the English Premiership title late last month before earning a call-up to the tour in South Africa, where he made an impressive debut against the Stormers last Saturday.