Tomas Francis

Last updated

Tomas Francis
Date of birth (1992-04-27) 27 April 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth York, England
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight135 kg (21 st 4 lb; 298 lb)
School Sedbergh School & Ampleforth College
University University of Leeds
Rugby union career
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Malton and Norton RUFC ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2012–2013 Doncaster Knights 20 (10)
2013–2014 London Scottish 23 (0)
2014–2021 Exeter Chiefs 116 (10)
2021– Ospreys 6 (0)
Correct as of 19 May 2018
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2015– Wales 76 (15)
Correct as of 18 March 2023

Tomas Francis (born 27 April 1992) is a Wales international rugby union player who plays at tight head prop for Ospreys.

Contents

Club career

Francis signed his first professional contract with Doncaster Knights in February 2012 at the age of 19, he was playing for amateur club Malton and Norton RUFC when he signed for the Knights, where he had been playing from the age of 4. [1] Francis signed with London Scottish in 2013 after Doncaster were relegated to National League 1, he made 23 appearances in one season for Scottish before being signed by Aviva Premiership side Exeter Chiefs for the 2014–15 season. [2] He was a replacement as Exeter Chiefs defeated Wasps to be crowned champions of the 2016-17 English Premiership. [3]

On 12 January 2021, Francis confirmed his move to Welsh region Ospreys in the Pro14 on a three-year deal from the 2021-22 season. [4]

International career

On 20 January 2015, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said during a press conference that he had a long debate about whether to include Francis in the 34-man squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship but had decided against it due to current back injuries Francis was carrying. [5]

On 9 March 2015, Francis was called up to train with Wales. [6]

On 16 March 2015, Francis was added to the Wales squad prior to the final Six Nations game against Italy. [7]

On 2 June 2015, Francis was selected in Wales 47-man World Cup training squad.

On 29 August 2015, Francis made his Wales debut in a 16–10 World Cup warm-up victory over Ireland. [8] He was called up as cover for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. [9]

International tries

TryOpponentLocationVenueCompetitionDateResult
1Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2018 Autumn Internationals 24 November 2018Win
2Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Cardiff, Wales Millennium Stadium 2022 Six Nations 12 February 2022Win
3Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia Nantes, France Stade de la Beaujoire 2023 Rugby World Cup 7 October 2023Win

Personal life

He was educated at both Ampleforth College and Sedbergh School. Francis has a degree in Mechanical Engineering which he earned at the University of Leeds. He signed his first professional contract at Doncaster Knights while completing his studies. [10]

Francis qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, Eirlys Walters, who was born in Abercraf. [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Malton and Norton's Tom Francis majors on upwardly mobile lift". York Press. 30 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Exeter Chiefs sign London Scottish prop Tomas Francis". BBC Sport. 3 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Premiership final: Wasps 20-23 Exeter Chiefs (aet)". BBC. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Tomas Francis: Ospreys confirm signing of Wales prop from Exeter". BBC Sport. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  5. ↑ "Six Nations 2015: Who is Tomas Francis, the Exeter prop who came close to selection with Wales?". Wales Online. 20 January 2015.
  6. ↑ "Six Nations 2015: Wales call in Scarlets hooker Ken Owens". BBC Sport. 9 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Tomas Francis called up to Wales' Six Nations Squad". Exeter Express And Echo. 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Rugby World Cup warm-up: Ireland 10-16 Wales". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015.
  9. ↑ "BRITISH & IRISH LIONS CALL-UPS". lionsrugby.com. 17 June 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  10. ↑ "Malton and Norton's Tom Francis majors on upwardly mobile lift". York Press. 30 March 2012.
  11. ↑ "Cardiff Blues target Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis but Joaquin Tuculet and Lucas Amorosino set to leave". Wales Online. 24 March 2015.
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