Terry O’Connor: Bring back Great Britain

Terry O’Connor believes that the time has come to bring back the Great Britain & Ireland team which he played for in his career.

The former Wigan prop thinks that the development of players in the other home countries is being held back by an over-emphasis on the England team, which is now “cherry picking” irreplaceable talent from the other Home Nations.

“I firmly believe should have a Great Britain team, and a strong and fair national set-up below that,” the Sky Sports pundit told League Weekly.

“The flip-flopping makes a mockery of things.

“Ireland have lost Mick McIlorum, Chris Bridge, Ben Harrison and Paul Prescott to the England squad. Scotland have lost Danny Brough. They simply cannot replace talent like that.

“If we want international rugby to succeed we have to make sure we do things for the right reasons.”