Bill Francis
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" L. Francis (October 1947 in Featherstone
) is an English
born Welsh
former professional rugby league
footballer of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain
, Wales
, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wigan
, St. Helens, Oldham
, and Salford
, playing at , /, i.e. number 1, 2 or 5, 3 or 4, or 6.
while at Wigan in 1975 against France, England, in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup
against France, England, Australia, New Zealand, England, Australia, New Zealand, and France, in 1977 against England, and France, while at St. Helens in 1978 against France, England, and Australia, in 1979 against France, and England, while at Oldham in 1980 against France, and England, and won caps for Great Britain
while at Wigan in 1967 against Australia, and in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup
against New Zealand, Australia (2 matches).
Featherstone
Featherstone is a town and civil parish in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England. It lies south-west of Pontefract and has a population of 14,175.Featherstone railway station is on the Pontefract Line.-History:...
) is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
born Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
former professional rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1960s, '70s, and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
, Wales
Wales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
, and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wigan
Wigan Warriors
Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....
, St. Helens, Oldham
Oldham Roughyeds
Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....
, and Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
, playing at , /, i.e. number 1, 2 or 5, 3 or 4, or 6.
International honours
Bill Francis won caps for WalesWales national rugby league team
The Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
while at Wigan in 1975 against France, England, in the 1975 Rugby League World Cup
1975 Rugby League World Cup
The 1975 Rugby League World Cup was the seventh staging of rugby league football's World Cup tournament...
against France, England, Australia, New Zealand, England, Australia, New Zealand, and France, in 1977 against England, and France, while at St. Helens in 1978 against France, England, and Australia, in 1979 against France, and England, while at Oldham in 1980 against France, and England, and won caps for Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
while at Wigan in 1967 against Australia, and in the 1977 Rugby League World Cup
1977 Rugby League World Cup
- Final standings :-Final:Great Britain were the underdogs going to the final, which was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. They managed to dominate the possession, and it took a last minute try from Australia’s John Kolc to secure the Cup in front of 24,457 spectators.Australia: Graham Eadie;...
against New Zealand, Australia (2 matches).
External links
- Statistics at wigan.rlfans.com
- International Statistics at englandrl.co.uk
- Statistics at orl-heritagetrust.org.uk
- Aussies win in London
- Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
- Statistics at saints.org.uk
- http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2368209321_5b49122cb5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/24622831%40N05/2368209321/&usg=__WFCXf3pAzjNHOzvXSjAcqmMoMVk=&h=277&w=500&sz=132&hl=en&start=28&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=j2tHPD-Ig6d1aM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522bill%2Bfrancis%2522%2Brugby%26start%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1Wales 1975 Team - Seven of these players played for Salford at some stage]
- http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/2364379792_ff4a965622.jpg&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/24622831%40N05/2364379792/&usg=__JJussslwW9eNHU65PpugYGq3FwU=&h=230&w=500&sz=95&hl=en&start=12&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=6R4FR7DMl17K2M:&tbnh=60&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522bill%2Bfrancis%2522%2Brugby%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26tbs%3Disch:1Bill Francis - Salford v Swinton 1981]
- http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/2368117791_59bce7388a.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/24622831%40N05/2368117791/&usg=__Sh-IkXQoknC8WXfsoFwpshmBYQE=&h=340&w=500&sz=140&hl=en&start=13&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=QmEA3sfmtOEwqM:&tbnh=88&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522bill%2Bfrancis%2522%2Brugby%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26tbs%3Disch:1Packing down against Bradford in the 17-13 Challenge Cup win February 1981]
- http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2366547150_076a6824fc.jpg%3Fv%3D0&imgrefurl=http://flickr.com/photos/24622831%40N05/2366547150/&usg=__KaqmSXf1aUzAK2M0BvLjmFAi2CA=&h=353&w=343&sz=101&hl=en&start=14&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=YM85xPzZkVE1kM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522bill%2Bfrancis%2522%2Brugby%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26tbs%3Disch:1Bill Francis - Salford RLFC 1981]
