Francis had two sons, Geoff and Ian, who saw what his father's all-encompassing approach meant at home. In 1957, Hull signed a South African full-back called Mervyn 'Pin' McMillan, who was not aware his coach was black. Northern England's working classes sought payment for their on-pitch efforts, while the union men wanted to keep rugby amateur for 'gentlemen'. If you're trying to find out the names of famous English rugby players then this list is the perfect resource for you. Flanker Mellish was born in Cape Town and played six times for England as well as earning six caps for his native South Africa in the 1920s. Jason Robinson said recently that he feels his story, going from a single-parent family on a council estate to an World Cup winner with England in 2003, facing racism on and off the pitch en route, isnt well-known enough. His transformative play style in the front row has helped carve his name out in that position for years to come. England 28 players France 26 players Ireland 27 players Italy 26 players Scotland 27 players Wales 34 players U20 Six Nations Championship Eng. He has been a constant for club and country this year. These rugby players are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known rugby player from England is included when available. Anglo-French rivalry has lacked a little rancour since a certain English superstar seduced the heart of French rugby. In retirement, she is determined to change that for those who follow, using her position on the England Rugby Council to effect change. Website. The only player from the current set-up to make it onto our list at this juncture, there can be no denying that Farrell has forged an outstanding England career, and is still only 28-years-old. A 2016 Grand Slam winner, 2017 Six Nations winner and three-time Triple Crown winner (2014, 2016, 2017), Farrell was also part of 2016's three-Test whitewash of the Wallabies in Australia. These are fantastic stories. Many have tippeded the Scotland player to start for the Lions after he put in multiple sensational performances for Racing 92 this year. On the long journey to the other side of the globe, Francis and his wife Rene were not allowed off the boat in South Africa. Imagine him at 100%! One of the greatest players of all time." It has been a tragic 24 hours for rugby. Almost everything that has been brilliant about Les Bleus this year can be traced back to the son of Emile Ntamack. Still the only man to captain England to Rugby World Cup glory. Steve Borthwick has named a 26-player England squad for a three-day training camp in Brighton. Despite success on the field, a rising rugby star senses the emerging emptiness of his life as his inner angst begins to materialize through aggression and brutality, so he attempts to woo his landlady in hopes of finding reason to live. He distinguished himself so much as a running flyhalf and clever centre that he eventually became the first black player to start a test match for the Springboks and won all six Tests he played. On 2 November 2019, England were defeated 12-32 by South Africa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final. He even did enough to earn a place for Wales at the end of the year. "Roy was the first person to come and see me after I had my daughter," says Anne Francis. The tournament was run by four women from the English rugby club, Richmond - Deborah. In his international career, he won the Tri-Nations twice in 2004 and 2009 as well as the Rugby World Cup in 2007 when South Africa overcame England. Ollie Thorley Well earned spot on this list for the 24-year-old who has been a powerhouse for Gloucester this year. These rugby players are among the most prominent in their field, and information about each well-known rugby player from England is included when available. And yet, Maggie Alphonsi is not a household name like Jonny Wilkinson. He retired in 1977, aged 58. Manu Tuilagi ( England) | R7 155 787,95/Year The young Reds scrum-half emerged on the scene early this year. There arent too many years left in the star, but he undoubtedly will be key for any side he plays for. List of England national rugby union players, "List of England national rugby union players", Learn how and when to remove this template message, "RFU pays tribute to Charles 'Peter' Garfield Woodruff", "Charles 'Peter' Garfield Woodruff MBE - a tribute", "Newport RFC: 1954/55 Season Summary | Newport RFC", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_England_national_rugby_union_players&oldid=1136323946, v United States of America at San Francisco, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 20:26. However, his non-stop workrate in matches and refusal to leave the opposition alone has made him unstoppable for England. His total of 501 tries is third only to Australian Brian Bevan and Welshman Billy Boston. And, in both cases, their social standing seems to have been relevant unlike later players, their race was rarely mentioned in contemporary reports. If it is going to be taken further we should hear both sides of the story.IMHO, The playerthat needs citing is dane Coles and not ardie.he went in with a swinging arm to the head of the rebels player on the ground after the maul was pushed into touch.Coles should sit out 6 weeks, Big Jim travels to South Africa prior to the RWC, The 'seething' reply Mike Brown gave when asked about Marcus Smith, 'It's a warrior game': Ardie Savea explains controversial gesture, How the world reacted to Ardie Savea's 'nasty' gesture. With New Zealand having such a premium history of back three players, Jordan looks like he may have what it takes to rival the illustrious careers of the likes of Ben Smith and Mils Mulianina in the future. List of rugby players by country and by club for the current season . He eventually joined the Metropolitan Police Force and here went on to represent England, playing for the team eight times as well as the Lions on fifteen occasions, although never in a test match. Everything good about France and their rugby this season can be linked to the work ethic of their new captain Charles Ollivon. Note that the "position" column lists the position at which the player made his Test debut, not necessarily the position for which he is best known. For a moment, for a match, maybe even for a career: sometimes sport gives us stories that even Hollywood wouldnt write. While at university, he was selected for the Edinburgh representative side in their games against Glasgow, which were effectively international trials. It is now commonplace for coaches to take inspiration from other sports - but Francis was years ahead of his time in this regard. THOMAS 2. At the start of Eddie Jones reign there was talk of the Saracens prop being called up to the EPS squad, but the Australian elected to go with the exciting talent of Paul Hill. What a player. Very much a breakthrough player for New Zealand this year after some incredible performances for the Crusaders late in 2019. It shows the quality of the man to be that good at this stage of his career. A rare bright spark for Ireland in a tough year for the men in green. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps) 14. He captained a young and inexperienced England side to the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993, despite only having two weeks together in camp. The 31-year-old Ospreys flanker has always managed to maintain a level of elite form, and he has yet again managed to do this in the 2020 rugby season. 10. Every player there - if Roy had said 'run all night' we would've done. In 2003, the side conquered all who came before them in the Six Nations Championship and won every game in the competition, claiming the Grand Slam in the process. Representation is important, as Maggie Alphonsi, Ellis Genge, and Maro Itoje, among others, have highlighted recently. Arguably, there has not been a player with the turn of speed and agility that Robinson possessed either before him, or since. All Black wing Va'aiga Tuigamala passed away in Auckland last night at the age of 52. He went to Rotorua Boys' High School where he began playing rugby alongside with former All Black loosie Liam Messam. It is not clear if he ever knew who his birth parents were. Austin Sean Healey (born 26 October 1973 in Wallasey, Cheshire) is a former English rugby union player who played as a utility back for Leicester Tigers, and represented both England and the British and Irish Lions. 6. What a unique talent he was. What was said to Ardie to make him go off? [104], Two other England internationals, John Kendall-Carpenter and Clive Woodward, were inducted into the IRB Hall alongside Johnson at the 2011 IRB Awards. He appeared at three World Cups two for Great Britain, in 1968 and 1972, and again for Wales in 1975. Britta Zeltmann and Jemma Carr and The Sun 4 min read February 3, 2022 - 1:24PM The leaps forward in physical training and psychology studies in the Army had helped Francis revolutionise Hull. Could he be in with a shot of a Lions starting place next summer if he can perform at the start of next year? Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 23 caps) Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 30 caps) Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps) Maro Itoje (Saracens, 48 caps) Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 87 caps) Lewis. "He didn't say that of course, but I know why he came. Francis was a revelation. with Kate arriving in a black England rugby . Jimmy PetersYou may have heard of Jimmy Peters, the first black man to play rugby union for England in 1906 and the only black player selected for England until 1988. The Welshman had started out in rugby union where he was spotted by league scouts as a hugely promising teenager. Durban-born Stevens played for South Africa at U18 and U19 level before moving to the UK. Another Welsh player who switched codes, despite a period playing union in the army during World War II, Francis scored 229 tries in 356 league games. He also, however, scored a lot of tries: memorably stunning an Australia team containing Michael Lynagh and David Campese in the opening moments of the final. Francis developed rapidly, but his progress was curtailed when the Australian Harry Sunderland took over as coach and played the youngster in only seven of 86 games. He is a famously competitive and "outspoken" character, gaining the nickname "The Leicester Lip".Since retiring he has worked in the media. All Blacks coach Ian Foster drops bombshell after NZ Rugby statement NEWS: . Of these, 13 were Grand Slam victories and 26 saw them win the Triple Crown by beating Ireland, Scotland and Wales. He has managed to continue that form when rugby restarted towards the end of the year. England take on South Africa in a mouth-watering fixture where the home team will be hoping for their first victory over the Springboks in almost a decade. His speed is still sensational, his tackling non-stop. The former Widnes and Wigan winger is still the most prolific try-scoring Englishman of all time. His off-field controversies cant take away from the fact that the Argentina captain has been sensational for Los Pumas in 2020. 1063. His cerebral qualities would change the entire game. Votes: 6,751. Francis Edward Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. The All Black, cast out by Steve Hansen in the 2019 World Cup has made a sensational comeback for New Zealand in 2020. He later played for his local Northumberland side and went on to captain them. Great Britain won 25-9. Black players are often subconsciously stereotyped as athletes rather than decision-makers perhaps if more people knew Jimmy Peters and Errol Tobias ran their backlines, or how Andrew Harriman and Clive Sullivan inspired their teams to victory, that would be different. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clothing company. Post-war, Francis returned to Barrow and his prolific form thrust him into the Great Britain reckoning to tour Australia. James G RobertsonFrom 1871-75, James Robertson played 46 games as a try-scoring forward for Royal High School Former Players, one of the founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union, alongside Scotland test players like Angus Buchanan and Alexander Petrie. If not for the injuries he suffered through his career, Wilkinson would likely be more widely regarded as up there with the very best ever to have played. Englands tackling terminator has kicked on from an extraordinary 2019 season with another superb year for club and country. England's greatest ever try scorer, and by some distance. He was like a pied piper.". He is a member of the British Rugby League Hall of Fame, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame, and the Wigan Warriors Hall of Fame. He is not in Britain's wider sporting consciousness, and he is not on the list of 100 Great Black Britons. One of the few real, natural opensides England have produced. It was coaching, however, where Francis truly changed the games in ways that still impact it now. Sam Stanley Sam Stanley became the first openly gay Rugby Union and Sevens player in the UK. Born in Grahamstown in Eastern Cape, Black made ten appearances for England in the 1930s as well as featuring in all five tests of the 1930 Lions tour to New Zealand. Sir Ian McGeechan's 10 best young players in the world Sir Ian McGeechan's 10 best young players in the world Two young English fly-halves and an 18-year-old Scot feature on Sir Ian McGeechan's. Not many hookers are found near the top of the try-scoring table - but Davies has just done that in the Premier 15s, England's women's premiership, having scored nine tries . On the way to that 1972 title, he scored a try in each of the four games, including a length of the field effort against Australia in the final to bring GB level. The son of Mike Umaga and nephew of legendary All Black Tana Umaga, he certainly deserves a place on this list being just 19 years of age. England squad - in full Forwards: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 21 caps) Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 19 caps) Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, uncapped) Ben Earl (Saracens, uncapped) Charlie Ewels (Bath. He and Rene were coming home. Colin Hutton picked up Francis' methods and became a rugby league great, also coaching Great Britain in the 1960s. What a year for the gigantic Fijian. Fastest rugby players of all-time. Regarded as the only player never to have been dropped by Clive Woodward, Hill was a phenomenal performer in the back-row for England during a period of unrivalled success. 4 Likes, 0 Comments - jo moore (@bumptrott) on Instagram: "Watching England Roses v New Zealand Black Ferns, Rugby World Cup final.. In 2016 the Port Elizabeth-born utility back was unveiled as Italys new attack coach. Their semi-final victory over New Zealand in Yokohama was the greatest single performance by an England team in history, however. Its a testament to Williams that he is still considered one of the main options to play for the Lions despite the incredible competition in those positions. Heineken Rugby Club where rugby meets the world. Despite this, it is clear to see the massive impact he has had for Bristol Bears since the massive signing was announced at the start of the year. Although the side lost their first ever test match (and the first test match ever played) against Scotland, they very quickly began to dominate the Home Nations Championship (now the Six Nations Championship) after it launched in 1883.When the Rugby World Cup was founded in 1987, the England Rugby team were invited to take part in the tournaments inaugural edition and they reached the quarter-final stage. Such is his cross-club popularity in the city, a section of the citys main approach road is named after him as well as the annual pre-season derby match between the two. Harlequins have had their say on seeing Alex Dombrandt thriving as the first-choice England No8 for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations a year after he rotated the jersey with Sam Simmonds. "Straight away everybody had to have spikes, big forwards wearing sprinting spikes. That shows just how good the Leicester Tigers winger is. The list of England Rugby Players shows all the England Rugby Players with their positions and debut rank. He was a lovely man. If they were having problems at home or whatever, he would sit with them for hours.". Nadolo managed to bag a hat trick of tries for Fiji having just played one game in the Autumn Nations Cup. He scored 250 tries in 352 appearances for Hull FC before joining their great local rivals Hull KR and scoring another 118 tries in 213 appearances. FRANCIS 4. He was also obsessively absorbing knowledge that would soon become crucial. As well as playing in the Five Nations, Mellish featured for the Springboks in their first tour of New Zealand in 1921. Her astonishing achievements in the womens game are not as well-known as they deserve to be. Barrow saw a chance to sign him. The Rugby Football Union's strict criteria currently stops Borthwick from selecting players based outside England but with cash-strapped Premiership clubs unable to compete with overseas rivals . and "Who are the most famous rugby players from England?" Although Springboks coach Rudolf Straeuli approached Abbott, the centre chose to play for England and was a part of the World Cup-winning squad of 2003. Just 23-years-old and he captains the best team in England to a double in England and in Europe. Her family were unimpressed when baby Roy was born, and she gave him away. "Both she and Roy kept quiet about it, but I think they were very hurt by the abuse they received by some members of the team.". In his book Gone North: Welshmen in Rugby League, Gate notes an observation of Francis from a Dewsbury match: "He is a man capable of snatching the vital try at a critical stage, he is also talented at keeping up the morale of his team generally. Some say the club hierarchy did not realise Francis was black when they hired him. During the war, he joined the British army and served as a physical training instructor across the north of England, alongside future Manchester City boss Joe Mercer and many other sportsmen of the time. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. There is no way we could leave the giant All Black second row out of this list. Couple that with his performances for La Rochelle in the Top 14. He earned 58 caps in the All Black New . The former Saracens full-back also played with England in the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2013 to 2015 but has been sidelined from the sport due to a recurring injury. His barnstorming runs and unrivalled aggression have helped to make him the starting number 8 after Kieran Read retired. For example, Jonny Wilkinson made his Test debut off the bench as a wing, but is more famous as a fly-half. Players were in and out of our house like drafts. He became England captain in 1999, and led the side through to 2003 World Cup victory over Australia on Aussie soil - the World Cup final being his last international appearance. He dropped a ball against Ireland and a misplaced kick in the final match of the Autumn Nations Cup. JONNY MAY - England - 10.71 SECONDS (100M) The speedster clocked 10.71 for the 100 metres. "Football are in the communities doing regular work and rugby league isn't," Simmons says. He brought a golden era to the city with Championship titles in 1956 and 1958 - finishing as runners-up in between - and took them to the Challenge Cup final in 1959 and 1960. Richie Gray (207cm, 6ft 8in) The only British & Irish Lion to feature on this list, Gray has been one of the tallest locks in northern hemisphere rugby this decade after breaking through at Glasgow Warriors. Although ignored by Martin Johnson throughout his time in charge, the Saracens centre was a favourite of the Stuart Lancaster era and has so far won 26 caps. However, he did let himself down on multiple occasions for Scotland when he captained them this season. List of rugby players by country and by club for the current season. Last month, Bradford Bulls head coach John Kear hailed Francis as "the godfather of the modern coach", but to Roy's son Geoff, he was just Dad. He also represented the Lions on two tours (2001, 2005) and, like Johnson, has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame - Wilkinson in 2016. Sadly the pandemic meant he could not play in the Autumn Nations Cup. Francis' brilliance and the city's accepting nature combined to create a bubble away from the racial tensions elsewhere in Britain. Alongside playing, he worked as bricklayer, bus driver and for British Gas before the sport turned professional, but his ability on the pitch still shone through, with World Cup winning-coach Sir Clive Woodward referring to him as the "Prince of Centres". He has a statue outside Wembley and one in Wigan that the locals paid for. Yet 65 years on from Francis' trailblazing start at Hull, there remains a galling lack of black head coaches or administrators in British sport - something footballer Raheem Sterling highlighted in June. Cotton was ahead of his time in terms of physical preparation. "Roy was like an agony aunt to players. Sadly, they fell to Australia at their home ground of Twickenham.However, the England national rugby union team soon entered into a golden era where they went from being nearly men to champions. The gainline-busting Cardiff Rugby loosehead has been one of the form players in the URC and he wants his opportunity with Wales. He was truly sensational for Chiefs, adding a completely new weapon to their arsenal. Despite no international rugby for South Africa this year, he has still wowed fans in England for Sale Sharks. 15 October 1971. Many fans will not be happy at all about how low down the list this Scot is. . It was here that he came to the attentions of then England manager Martin Johnson. Here is our list of 11 South African rugby team player profiles. Francis' story has been largely forgotten. Johnny Whiteley was Hull captain under the progressive coach and took over the reins himself, later leading Great Britain on tour to Australia in 1970, the last side to win the Ashes there. Like Appleford, Horak earnt one cap for England on the 2002 tour, with both players establishing themselves as international-quality at London Irish. Played most of his England career during the amateur era, Guscott was a wonderfully creative and smooth-running centre. Next he would do the same at Leeds, becoming their head coach in 1963. Listen here on SoundCloud or subscribe on iTunes. Could very much be higher in this list if we got to see him more in action for Fiji this year. Mike Catt - England Was forcibly thrust into fame in the most unflattering fashion by a rampaging Jonah Lomu during the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He hasnt dominated for Gloucester, but his incredible solo try has earnt him that spot at number 3 in this list. Menu; Tournaments; Clubs; . He once said he felt he had to you had to run twice as fast to be considered the equal of his white peers. Ireland is going through a transitional stage at the moment and we are certain Doris will be behind all the changes in that team. Though not as famed or outspoken as some of his team-mates, the Saracen had everything and gelled within a back-row unit alongside Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio to genuinely world class effect. Having turned down offers from both French and Welsh sides to give himself the unlikely chance of playing for the Springboks, he represented both the Proteas and later the South African Barbarians, including in the team that toured the UK in 1979 as the first multiracial South African team overseas. He cried the night he signed for Wigan, knowing he would no longer be able to play union for Cardiff or Wales. those who have played for the Scotland national rugby union team. That is unclear, but the world of that time did not share British rugby league's view that if you can do a job, it does not matter what colour you are. Then he took the rugby league world by storm and didnt let up for 17 years. List of England Rugby Players Know about all the England Rugby Players. I don't know how to phrase it really, I can't think of anyone else I've met in my life that I've thought 'this bloke is really something else'. Richie McCaw (NZ) - He has been the. In the past three years, 16 black players have played for England's senior men's football team. The Saracens lock is not everyones cup of tea in rugby. Francis had innumerable qualities: inner strength, thick skin, a uniquely-innovative sporting mind, and a loving nature. The young winger was told he would not succeed at the club and it has been suggested - including by Francis himself - that the colour of his skin was the reason for his departure. Richard Wigglesworth has given his take on how England squad regular Joe Heyes has reacted to his recent exclusion from the international scene by Steve Borthwick. The box office fly half has had a quiet 2020 by his own standards, and he was more in the media for his high profile moves to the Blues and Japan than his actual rugby skill. He was very concerned with psychological welfare and always made sure wives and children were involved.". Not for Francis. We are certain that we will find him in action even more as the years go on. The gainline-busting Cardiff Rugby loosehead has been one of the form players in the URC and he wants his opportunity with Wales. The Exeter Chiefs centre is always involved when Exeter of England score a sensational solo try. Shannon Frizell (27, Highlanders / Tasman, 14) Akira Ioane (26, Blues / Auckland, 4) Luke Jacobson (24, Chiefs / Waikato, 5) Dalton Papalii (23, Blues / Counties Manukau, 5) Ardie Savea (27, Hurricanes / Wellington, 50) Hoskins Sotutu (23, Blues / Counties Manukau, 6) Backs Halfbacks TJ Perenara (29, Hurricanes / Wellington, 69) His performances for Wasps in England have been way ahead of his years. ", Only recently has Francis' impressive legacy begun to be recognised properly. Another player born in Cape Town, Abbotts mother was English and it was his time at Wasps, winning Premiership and European titles whilst at the club. Thereafter, he is a certainty - injury aside - to streak past 100 caps. A position in parentheses indicates that the player debuted as a substitute. Billy BostonTalk to a rugby league fan and they will be able to tell you all about Billy Boston. "He pushed and he pushed and he pushed and he always had his stopwatch out, I'm not sure he ever recorded the times, I think it might've been a trick. Like many men of his generation, Francis wasn't prone to discussing his feelings with family, but Rene did speak to her daughter-in-law Anne. He is also one of very few players in the sport to have won both a Rugby World Cup and Sevens World Cup. An embarrassing moment that almost overshadowed his. Always considered one of the best rugby players around. The 24-year-old shouldered the burden of the Ireland captaincy this year for the Autumn Nations Cup. He once said, My goal was to show the country and the rest of the world that we had black players who were equally as good, if not better, than the whites, and that if you are good enough you should play.. But the Welsh had followed England's Rugby Football Union in 1895 in splitting from rugby league. Would certainly be higher up this list if we got to see more of him in action. The greatest try-scorer in the history of either code, he scored 571 tries in 562 matches. The Rugby Onslaught editorial team based around the globe spent hours debating whether this Frenchman should have been Number 1 in this pick. Andrew HarrimanDespite being known as the Prince of Pace, it was Andrew Harrimans leadership qualities that made the difference in his career. His self-belief spread through the team as they made their way through the competition. A few more strong years and he could be one of the greats of French rugby. Scoring two tries in his five Tests, although he was undoubtedly a pioneer, it would be 80 years before another black player represented England. Looking at Francis' proteges, his influence stretches far and wide. . The World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, Beauden . "The Rugby World Cup was a sea change for rugby in New Zealand, but also for women and . Share it ! By far the most impressive winger in the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup in 2020. Forty-seven years earlier, Clive Sullivan became the first black captain in any major sport to lift a world cup trophy, having captained Great Britain to glory in the 1972 Rugby League World Cup. The Rugby Onslaught investigation unit has gathered a crack team of the best analysts, codebreakers and pundits in the universe to pick the 50 best rugby players in the world in 2020. With a strong argument to be England's quickest wide man ever, May is gradually improving his finishing prowess and is now arguably the first name on the teamsheet for head coach Eddie Jones. In 2003 she won the Woodley Award, which is given to the top college rugby player . After injuries made him retire, he focused on his legal career he was also the first Aboriginal barrister and was so successful the Mullenjaiwakka Trust for Indigenous Legal Students was named in his owner. Andrew Trimble (Ireland, 70 caps) The 33-year-old played 12 years for Ireland between 2005 and 2017, helping Joe Schmidt's men claim the 2014 Six Nations title. He proceeded to do that, 100-yard and 220-yard sprint doubles for the under-15, under-16 and open age groups in 1953 and establishing himself as the best winger in schools rugby. The second rower was also known for his reliable boot and scored six conversions and four penalties on top of two tries for England.