SKU: 34973293746

Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black Leader

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Description

Roy Francis: Rugby's Forgotten Black LeaderCondition: BRAND NEW ISBN: 9781399417952 Format: Paper over boards Year: 2025 Publisher: Bloomsbury Description: The remarkable story of one man's struggle to overcome racism and 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

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781399417952
Format: Paper over boards
Year: 2025
Publisher: Bloomsbury


Description:
The remarkable story of one man's struggle to overcome racism and 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 those times, he was a Black man in a white world.


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 played for Wigan and, despite facing racism, became the first Black player to play for Great Britain in either rugby codes.


Roy Francis became Hull rugby league club coach in 1951 where he introduced video-analysis, sports psychology and personalised training revolutionary methods which turned a mediocre team into championship winners. His crowning glory came when his Leeds team triumphed in the famous 1968 'Watersplash' Wembley Cup Final, before he headed Down Under as North Sydney Bears 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 defied prejudice to reach the pinnacle of rugby as a player, coach and leader.
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SKU: 34973293746

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Amazon Customer
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Very Comfortable
Color: Navy Blue, Size: Large
Great shirt. Very comfortable
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Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2026
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Jimmy
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Takes a Licking and Keeps on Ticking
Color: Green/Black
I love this watch despite the fact that it is really a toy. I love the look of the watch, I love how lite the weight of the watch is on my wrist, and it really does keep good time if you manage the solar charge properly. Other than looking cool on your wrist, this watch has absolutely no functions other than time keeping. The black plastic bezel is molded into the case and does not turn, so don't plan on using that. The watch has no light, the dial numbers are non-luminous and the hands are very limited in terms of luminosity. No buttons. All you can do is adjust the time and date by pulling out what used to be a winding stem in the good old days. The small tag on the strap with Geographic coordinates shown on it indicate the location of the old Timex manufacturing facility (SW of Waterbury, CT). I have a nice ledge at my bedroom window and it gets good western sun for a good part of the day regardless of the time of year. On this ledge you will find a half dozen solar powered watches (mostly Casio) properly aligned to maximize the charge they may receive each day. Note that the description for this Timex watch specifically states that a lightbulb won't charge this watch. You need direct sunlight for several hours if you want to get more than a 3-week charge into this watch. So, I'll leave you with a couple of tips, my friends; 1.) If you are looking for a first watch to give your outdoorsy oriented Son or Daughter, then give them this one. Why? Because it is cool looking, fairly well built, and it actually works, 2.) After you receive your Timex watch, be sure to keep the display mount it is packaged with. It makes a great fixture to mount your watch on for charging and allows you to maximize the position of the solar cells on the dial so that you can optimize charging time. Have Fun! Jimmy
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Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2026
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Nuka Shroom Soup
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Excellent value, flawless performance for well over a year and no signs of quitting.
Color: Green/Black
Excellent value, had this for well over a year and it still keeps perfect time, still water resistant. No worries about having to change batteries. Owned a fancy expensive (battery) watch once and the dept. store repair intentionally sabotaged the watch in the hopes I would purchase another from them. Yeah, good luck with that, lost my business forever. This is the 21st century, cell phones are the new time pieces, but solar is totally reliable and Timex makes it happen. Holds a charge for many months, although I prop it in a bright window for a few days every few months or so just to make sure the cells are always fully charged, although it's probably unnecessary, just being over cautious. I haven't actually experienced this watch ever running out of power even after months of use. Damn impressive, as it should be.
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Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2025
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Bill
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 4
Good value for solar watch
Color: Black/Orange
Nice watch! It is plastic like but it is solar. No indiglo button only a little luminous on the hands so you don't want to wear it in tje dark and expect to check the time. 45mm case is good size for my wrist and the band works good also, Not too long not too short. Overall a good watch with no problems
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Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2026
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Barry Vercueil
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
Amazing Solar for the price
Color: Black/Orange, Color: Black/Orange
Great watch. Very good visibility. Ligh and feels quality. Easy to swap straps. Same size as my Casio Duro. Highly recommend.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2026

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