Roy Francis

The remarkable story of a man who eclipsed his own greatness to revolutionise rugby coaching. In the 1950s and 1960s one man dominated rugby coaching like no other: Roy Francis. He led teams to championships and Wembley finals, revolutionised the art of coaching, and inspired his players to incredible achievements. But even more amazingly for the time, he was a Black man.As the illegitimate child of a mixed-race couple who gave him up for adoption, his story recounts his upbringing in a Black family living in the Welsh coalfields, a childhood shaped by memories of the 1919 Welsh race riots and, foremost, his gift for rugby. Aged just seventeen, Roy went on to play professionally for Wigan, and despite facing racism, became the first Black player to play for the British Lions in either rugby code.Roy Francis became Hull rugby league club coach in 1950 where he introduced video-analysis, sports psychology and personalised training - revolutionary methods which turned a mediocre team into championship winners. His crowning glory came as his team triumphed in the famous 1968 ''Watersplash'' Wembley Cup Final, before heading down under in 1969 as North Sydney rugby league club coach.Through archives, family members'' accounts and former players'' memories, Roy Francis tells the story of a family''s journey from slavery to sporting success, and of a remarkable man who eclipsed his own playing greatness by revolutionising coaching.>

Auteur

Tony Collins is Professor of History in the International Centre for Sports History and Culture at De Montfort University. His book The Oval World won the Aberdare Prize for Sports History Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Sports Book Awards for the best rugby book. His previous books include Rugby's Great Split, Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain and A Social History of English Rugby Union, also winners of the Aberdare Prize. @collinstony

Contenu

Introduction 1. From the Black Atlantic to Brynmawr: 1919-1936 2. On the Road to and from Wigan Pier: 1936-1939 3. Life During Wartime: 1939-1945 4. The 1946 Lions' Tour and Beyond: 1945-1949 5. The Emergence of the Master Coach: 1949-1956 6. Triumph and Torment: 1956-1963 7. Glory and its Complications: 1963-1968 8. Black Leader in White Australia: 1968-1971 9. The Hard Road from the Top: 1971-1989 Conclusion Acknowledgements Bibliography Index