Arthur Francis (rugby)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Reginald Howe 'Bolla'/'Alf' Francis (born 8 June 1882 in Whanganui
– died 15 June 1957 in Takapuna
) was a New Zealand
dual-code international rugby football
er of the 1900s, '10s and '20s, and coach of the 1930s, who at representative level played for New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league
, as well as representing Australasia
in rugby league
and playing professionally for Wigan
and Hull.
for Ponsonby RFC and was part of successive Auckland Rugby Union championships between 1908 and 1910. Francis made his Auckland
debut in 1904 and scored a penalty
, in the 1905 Ranfurly Shield
victory over Wellington
.
Francis made his All Blacks debut in 1905 against Australia and became an automatic selection, playing in a total of ten Test matches in the next five years. In 1910 Francis and team mate George A. Gillett
rescued Anglo-Welsh Lions
player Percy Down
, who had fallen into the sea, keeping him afloat until a rope was lowered from the ship upon which Down was about to return to Great Britain.
competition. He represented Auckland
and New Zealand
in his inaugural season, before being selected to be part of the Australasia side
that toured Great Britain at the end of the year. In 1912 he captained New Zealand on his second tour of Australia. However, half way through the tour, Francis left the touring party to take up a contract with Wigan
. He would go on to play 214 first grade matches for Wigan before joining Hull, where he won a Rugby League Cup Final Medal.
who married Ellen Ivy May Francis.
Whanganui
Various places in New Zealand are called Whanganui:*Whanganui, a city at the mouth of the Whanganui River, also often spelled "Wanganui", Manawatu-Wanganui Region*Whanganui District, Manawatu-Wanganui Region*Whanganui Island, Waikato Region...
– died 15 June 1957 in Takapuna
Takapuna
Takapuna is a central, coastal suburb of North Shore City, located in the northern North Island of New Zealand, at the beginning of a south-east-facing peninsula forming the northern side of the Waitemata Harbour...
) was a New Zealand
New Zealanders
New Zealanders, colloquially known as Kiwis, are citizens of New Zealand. New Zealand is a multiethnic society, and home to people of many different national origins...
dual-code international rugby football
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
er of the 1900s, '10s and '20s, and coach of the 1930s, who at representative level played for New Zealand in rugby union and rugby league
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
, as well as representing Australasia
Australasia rugby league team
-1911-12:Following individual tours by New Zealand and Australia in 1907-08 and 1908-09 respectively, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited an 'Australasian' team to tour Great Britain during the 1911-12 season...
in 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...
and playing professionally 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....
and Hull.
Rugby union career
Francis played club rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for Ponsonby RFC and was part of successive Auckland Rugby Union championships between 1908 and 1910. Francis made his Auckland
Auckland Rugby Football Union
The Auckland Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Auckland Region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Its colours are navy blue and white in a hoop design. Auckland's top representative team have won New Zealand's top provincial rugby competition 16 times, more than...
debut in 1904 and scored a penalty
Penalty (rugby)
In rugby football, the penalty is the main disciplinary sanction available to the referee to penalise players who commit deliberate infringements. The team who did not commit the infringement are given possession of the ball and may either kick it towards touch , attempt a place kick at goal, or...
, in the 1905 Ranfurly Shield
Ranfurly Shield
The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as the Log o' Wood, is a trophy in New Zealand's domestic rugby union competition. First played for in 1904, the Ranfurly Shield is based on a challenge system, rather than a league or knockout competition as with most football trophies...
victory over Wellington
Wellington Rugby Football Union
The Wellington Rugby Football Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the city of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand...
.
Francis made his All Blacks debut in 1905 against Australia and became an automatic selection, playing in a total of ten Test matches in the next five years. In 1910 Francis and team mate George A. Gillett
George A. Gillett
George Arthur Gillett was a renowned New Zealand multi-code footballer of the early 20th century and a dual-code rugby international...
rescued Anglo-Welsh Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
player Percy Down
Percy Down
Percy Down was an English rugby union player, best known as a commanding forward in the Bristol pack in the first decade of the twentieth century...
, who had fallen into the sea, keeping him afloat until a rope was lowered from the ship upon which Down was about to return to Great Britain.
Rugby league career
Francis switched codes in 1911, joining the Auckland Rugby LeagueAuckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
competition. He represented Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
and New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in his inaugural season, before being selected to be part of the Australasia side
Australasia rugby league team
-1911-12:Following individual tours by New Zealand and Australia in 1907-08 and 1908-09 respectively, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited an 'Australasian' team to tour Great Britain during the 1911-12 season...
that toured Great Britain at the end of the year. In 1912 he captained New Zealand on his second tour of Australia. However, half way through the tour, Francis left the touring party to take up a contract with 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....
. He would go on to play 214 first grade matches for Wigan before joining Hull, where he won a Rugby League Cup Final Medal.
Coaching career
Francis was later reinstated by the New Zealand Rugby Union and coached rugby union at club level for Grammar RFC in the Auckland Rugby Union competition.Personal life
Francis was the brother-in-law of The Original All Blacks captain, Dave GallaherDave Gallaher
David "Dave" Gallaher was a New Zealand rugby union footballer, best known as the captain of "The Originals", the first New Zealand national rugby union team to be known as the All Blacks....
who married Ellen Ivy May Francis.