Neither are other lots of other members of the British Lions Rugby Union team.
British Lions = players from the British Isles, which includes Ireland. It’s not a very politic name, but it is the one that is used.
pan
I now declare this thread flezz.
Are they not accepting French players on the rugby team too? If France now in the British Isles?
No, that would be the Bar-bars, Twisty.
Barbarians includes England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, NI, France
British Lions includes England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland NI.
And as I say, the British Lions are called the British Lions because it is the team of the British Isles.
Before you complain too loudly, remember that the “Ireland” team includes NI - presumably via similar logic.
pan
Fair enough. I thought the name had been changed to “The Lions”.
I’ve no problem with the geographical term the British Isles and including Ireland in it.
BTW there is only 1 Irish team which is a combined Rep. and NI team. They even sing two songs before the games. The Irish anthem and a song called Irelands call. I think they should just sing one an I couldn’t give a shit which one I just think that 2 is OTT
What? The Dutch are left out of the Barbarians??
It’s discrimination, I say!
Feh. Just because we lost our last rugby match vs. England 100 to 0 doesn’t mean we suck! 
Actually, Coldie, yest it does 
And yojimbo - I knew that, that’s why I brought it up! I just wanted to show Twisty that in the weird world of rugby union the usual divisions and borders seem to not matter as much as the desire to create a team that might occasionally give the Wallabies a run for their money.
Once a decade would be nice.
pan
I thought they had stopped calling them the British Lions, except when they won a match!!
I’m sure I read somewhere that there is a french player in the current lions squad…