Howell de Francis - Utility forward
Wales RLHeritage No | 13 |
Place Of Birth | Aberavon |
Clubs | Wigan Warriors, Bradford Bulls, Aberavon |
Honours | Wales RL, Other Nationalities |
Howell de Francis was born in Port Talbot, Wales, around 1883. By 1906 he had turned professional with Bradford. On New Years Day 1908, he played in the world's first ever full rugby league international, scoring a try in Wales' 9-8 win over New Zealand in Aberdare. By Christmas of that year, he'd moved to Wigan and made a try-scoring debut in the Boxing Day derby against St Helens. He helped them to win the Championship that season, and played in their 7-3 win over Oldham in the 1909 Championship Final. He followed that up with a Lancashire Cup winners medal later that year. Howell de Francis was considered a "Probable" for the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand, but ultimately he was not selected for the tour. He also played for Other Nationalities during his career.
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