William Francis (rugby player)

Bill Francis
Birth name William Charles Francis
Date of birth (1894-02-04)4 February 1894
Place of birth New Plymouth, New Zealand
Date of death 28 November 1981(1981-11-28) (aged 87)
Place of death Pukekohe, New Zealand
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Notable relative(s) Nelson Ball (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
All Black No. 194
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1913–15, 1921 Wellington 20 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1913–14 New Zealand 5 (6)

William Charles Francis (4 February 1894 – 28 November 1981) was a New Zealand rugby union player.[1] A hooker, Francis represented Wellington at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1913 and 1914. He played 12 matches for the All Blacks including seven internationals.[2]

He was a first cousin of Nelson Ball,[3] who played for the All Blacks between 1931 and 1936, and who was also the father of cartoonist, Murray Ball.[4]

Following the death of Richard Fogarty in 1980, Francis held the distinction of being the oldest living All Black.

References

  1. ↑ "William Charles Francis". ESPN scrum. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  2. ↑ Knight, Lindsay. "Bill Francis". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Descendants of Mary Maria (Body) Ball". WikiTree. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Knight, Lindsay. "Nelson Ball". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
Records
Preceded by
Richard Fogarty		 Oldest living All Black
9 September 1980 – 28 November 1981		 Succeeded by
Beethoven Algar


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