Roy Francis (rugby)
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As of 29 September 2020 |
Roy Francis (20 January 1919 – April 1989) was a Welsh
Playing career
Francis came from Brynmawr, Wales. He played rugby union for Brynmawr RFC before joining English rugby league club Wigan as a seventeen-year-old
Returning to Barrow after the war, Francis represented Great Britain but was controversially overlooked for one Ashes tour to Australia for political reasons, the organisers fearing the ructions that could be caused by travelling to
on Saturday 14 May 1949.He transferred from Barrow to Hull during November 1949 for a fee of £1,250. Francis played his last game on Boxing Day 1955 before switching to coaching, a field in which he was to make an even greater impact.
Coaching career
Francis' man-management, coaching methods and use of psychological techniques were considered years ahead of their time. He was the first coach to embrace players' families and offer them transport to games.
Roy Francis was the
Francis left
Francis moved to Sydney to coach the North Sydney Bears for the 1969 NSWRFL season and stayed until 1970.
From 1971 to 1973 Francis was Hull FC's team manager.[11] He won a Premiership title back at Leeds during the 1974–75 season, and then coached Bradford Northern from 1975.
He died in April 1989, aged 70.[12]
Honours
Francis served as a Sergeant in the British Army during World War II.[13]
As a player
As a coach
- Championship Winners: 1956, 1958, 1974
- 1968
Statue
In recognition of the success of Roy Francis as a coach and player a statue was unveiled to him in Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent in October 2023.[14]
References
- ^ Iwan Gabe Davies. "Trailblazer Roy Francis from Gwent who became Britain's first professional black sporting coach". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org (RL)". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ISBN 0951119001
- ISBN 9780714634890.
- ^ "inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942". rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1943-1944 War Emergency League Championship Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "1958-1959 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
- ^ "A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals". Hull Daily Mail. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
- ^ "Local lad who sealed his place in city's heart". Hull Daily Mail at satellite.tmcnet.com. 1 January 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
- ^ "Coaches and Captains". hullfc.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ "1988-1989". Leeds Rhinos. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
- ^ Dore, Richard (28 October 2020). "Roy Francis: The black head coach who revolutionised rugby league". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-67181749