Year to remember for Francis

By Mark Stevens

Tomas Francis is hoping to cap an incredible past year by booking himself a spot at this summer's Rugby World Cup with Wales.

An unknown quantity to many when he arrived at Sandy Park last summer from Championship side London Scottish, the 23-year-old has made quite an impact in a short space of time following an impressive debut campaign with the Exeter Chiefs.

Brought in by Rob Baxter last summer to help bolster the front-row options at the Devon club, Francis has enjoyed what can only be described as a stellar season in Chiefs colours.

The seemingly unmoveable rock in the Exeter pack, the York-born tighthead featured 26 times in all competitions, as well as making it into the BT Sport Premiership Dream Team.

His solid on-field form not only made him first choice for the club's No.3 jersey, but at the same time brought him onto the radar of both Wales and England in terms of potential international selection.

Welsh coach Warren Gatland sounded his intentions at an early stage, drafting Francis - who qualifies for the Principality through his grandmother - into his training squad for the latter stages of the Six Nations.



England made mutterings of their own towards the end of the season, but the player himself was keen to pursue the Welsh route and was this week named in their 47-man training squad ahead of the World Cup.

Even by his own expectations, it's been somewhat of a whirlwind 12 months for Francis.

“I never thought it would go as well as it did,” he said. “When I started my season at Scottish two years ago I was third-choice and didn’t get a game until October/November time. If someone had said two years ago that I would be in the position I am now I would have laughed at them.

“I came to Exeter, was third-choice when I signed and knew it was going to be hard to even get one Premiership game, so I’ve surpassed all my expectations and all my goals.”

Francis is due to meet up with the rest of the Wales squad, which includes departing Exeter winger Tom James, next week and then they have two warm-up games against Ireland before the final 31-man party for the World Cup has to be named by August 31.

Whether or not Francis ultimately makes Gatland's final mix, he says the experience of being in and around the international set-up will help to make him a better player.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get into the squad, and I know that, so I’ll get my head down,” he added. “I’ve got to use it as a positive. Even if I go through the disappointment of not making it, hopefully it’ll make me stronger for Exeter next season – it’s a win-win either way.

“I really enjoyed my week training there (during the Six Nations) and now I’ve got the chance to train with them some more. Hopefully they can keep making me better and improving me.”