Englishman, Scotsman, Northern Irishman and Welshman race is no joke

An Englishman, a Northern Irishman, a Scotsman and a Welshman.

Rather than walking into a bar, this quartet won gold for Great Britain in the 4x200m freestyle relay at the 2025 Aquatics World Championships in Singapore.

England's James Guy, Northern Ireland's Jack McMillan, Scotland's Duncan Scott and Wales' Matt Richards came together to deliver for Team GB like swimming's version of rugby's British & Irish Lions.

But almost a year later, the team-mates will race one another for the individual 200m freestyle Commonwealth title.

"It's such a unique relationship. We're all competitors for the individual or team-mates for that 4x200m relay," said Richards.

"Then you throw Commonwealths into the mix and it makes it even more dynamic and different.

"There's a lot of trash talk between us leading up to it which is great fun and always a good laugh."

So while the friendly rivals are keeping their sense of humour, who will have the last laugh?

Richards has already won three medals at these Games but is still waiting for his first gold.

He and McMillan swim in the same heat on Wednesday as Scotsman Evan Jones and Englishman Tom Dean, who were also part of that world champion relay squad.

"We're all good friends and that camaraderie helps us as team-mates, but also as rivals to push each other," said McMillan.

"We play our roles when it comes the the relay but swimming is an individual sport too."

England's Guy said the chance for Team GB colleagues to go head to head "makes the Commonwealth Games a bit more special".

"It's actually really cool because it's very rare we represent our home nations," he added.

"It's really weird being part of different countries when you're together most of the time as Team GB."

Australia have dominated in the pool so far in these Games but Scott, who has already claimed gold in Glasgow, knows all four team-mates have ambitions to top the podium.

"We go head to head so much at British Championships year in and year out, in season meets, that it's always good fun racing those boys," Scott said.

"Ultimately we all want to see each other swim well," added Richards.

"We just want to see ourselves swim that tiny bit better."