Alfred Francis


Alfred "Alf" John Francis was a Welsh professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and Wales, and at club level for Treherbert RLFC and Hull F.C., as a, i.e. number 2 or 5.

Playing career

International honours

Francis won 2 caps for Wales in 1913–1914 while at Hull, and toured with Great Britain on the 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Francis played, i.e. number 5, and scored a try in Hull's 6–0 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1913–14 Challenge Cup Final during the 1913–14 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax, in front of a crowd of 19,000.

Club career

first became aware of Francis when he scored a try in Treherbert RLFC's 10–22 defeat by Hull Kingston Rovers during the 1909–10 season, but he was thought by Hull Kingston Rovers to be too small, so they decided against signing him. An official of Hull Kingston Rovers then recommended him to the Hull F.C. chairman who travelled to Wales, decided that Francis' size wasn't an issue, and signed him for Hull F.C. for 75 gold sovereigns Treherbert RLFC completed only 12-matches during the 1909–10 season, and as defaulters, they were prevented from playing in the 1910–11 season, by which time both Alfred Francis, and David Galloway had joined Hull FC.

Genealogical information

Alf Francis' marriage to Emma M. took place at St. Matthew's Church, Boulevard, Hull, on 8 December 1915, and was registered during fourth ¼ 1915 in Hull district. They had children; Wellesley T. Francis and Megan Francis.