Former rugby player honoured 74 years after debut

A former Bath Rugby player has been presented with a legacy cap 74 years after first joining the club.

Stan Francis, thought to be Bath Rugby's oldest living player, made his debut for the club in 1951.

He said: "If you played for Bath you could have a blazer badge after so many games, and that was what I wanted - I never expected this."

Mr Francis, 100, was presented with the specially embroidered cap at his nursing home in Bath by club president John Hall.

Bath Rugby recently launched a project to commemorate players who have represented the club in a senior competitive fixture.

Every player since the club was founded in 1865 has been assigned their own unique number and the numbers are embroidered on their caps.

Stan's number is 1816 and his late brother Jack, who also played for the club, is 1785.

Stan celebrated his 100th birthday on the 31 January.

The former pupil at Oldfield School in Bath was capped by England schoolboys in 1939.

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