AN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST asked a simple question on TV last night, and he got a simple answer.

Russell Barwick suggested on ESPN’s Pardon The Interuption yesterday that Ireland should join Team GB. But Irish sports fans soon informed him why he was wrong.

“Team GB has an enormous advantage over everyone else in the world because it’s four countries basically wrapped up into one,” Barwick told presenter Mark Champman, “that’s including the Isle of Man, Bermuda, the Falkland Islands and anywhere else they’ve taken over in the past 100 years.

“So why doesn’t the Republic of Ireland join up, given the fact that at the world cup of rugby, cricket and few other sports they all join up. And the reason I ask is there was a Republic of Ireland girl running today and she said it felt like a home crowd. And I’m thinking, well why isn’t it a home crowd?”

He continued: “They kiss and make up for the British Lions, they kiss and make up for the Six Nations. We, the rest of the world, can’t understand… it’s like a Hawaiian surfer not surfing for the USA. It’s not like Tasmanians say they don’t want to represent Australia.”

Today however, the Aussie presenter tweeted: ”Ok a million apologies to those I offended….. My initial question was Why does Ireland compete together in Rugby but not at Olympics? I found out myself and sorry again for offence as none was intended … God I hope Katie Taylor wins!!”

[to reader Eamonn D]

Watch last night’s PTI episode here>