Neil Francis is known for his slightly peculiar anecdotes that tend to open his more memorable columns, and today's offering is no different. In a fascinating article about the decline in French international rugby, Francis tells us the story of meeting up with a former French international and he ends up asking him if he's got HIV?
Neil Francis HIV Anecdote
The interesting tale begins when Francis admits that he doesn't recognise the Frenchman at an Ireland 'A' international at Donnybrook. After finally being convinced about the identity of the player it's apparent that the Frenchman has lost a lot of the bulk that he carried during his playing days.
Francis then jokes and asks him various reasons how he's lost five or six stone and asks him if he has HIV or cancer. The reason, it's revealed, is steroids. The Frenchman had stopped taking steroids on his retirement and that's the cause of his weight loss.
The column illustrates how the French used to play rugby twenty years ago, and lays a lot of the blame at their recent failures on the international stage with the influx of foreigners into the Top 14 and the incompetence of Phillipe Saint Andre.
