WILLIAM CHARLES FRANCIS

REPRESENTED NEW ZEALAND: 1913, 14 (12 Matches, 5 Internationals)
Points for New Zealand: 9, 3 tries
Position: FRONT ROW FORWARD
Born: New Plymouth 4 February: 1894
Died: Pukekohe 28 November: 1981
Provincial Record: Wellington 1913-15, 21 (Wellington)
North Island 1914

Educated at New Plymouth Convent and West End Primary Schools. Played senior football as a 17 year-old for the Tukapa club under the captaincy of All Black ‘Simon’ Mynott. Shifted to Wellington 1912 joining the Oriental club. The following year he transferred to the Wellington club and won selection for the New Zealand team to play the Australians in the 2nd and 3rd Tests. He was five months short of his 20th birthday and the youngest every forward to play Test Rugby for New Zealand. Toured Australia 1914 and appeared in all three Tests, scoring two tries in the third encounter. A plumber before WWI, he joined the Regular Army 1919 and served in the Trentham Ordinance Depot. Later lived in Whakatane and Buckland near Pukekohe. Retired as a Captain in the NZ Regular Army and awarded the M.B.E. Francis died at Pukekohe 28 November 1981, he was then the oldest living All Black. As he was only 19 when he first played for the All Blacks, he was probably an All Black longer than any other person — 68 years!! back to the top.