This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Francis, David Gwyn played for Wales Internationals: 2 : 1919 NZA- ; 1924 S- David Francis was born on 2 February 1896 at Gorseinon Played as a Lock/flanker for: Gowerton Grammar School, University College Cardiff, Llanelli, Oxford University (Blue 1919), Gorseinon, Lougher, London Welsh (Captain 1924-1925), Leicester, Surrey, London Counties Profession: Schoolmaster at Reading School, after graduating in Modern Languages at Oxford. War service: 29511 Staff Sergeant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers; he saw active service in France and then served as a Sergeant Instructor on the Staff of the Western Command School of Musketry at Altcar. Later commissioned, as he was listed at Lieutenant Gwyn Francis when he played for the 38th (Welsh) Division v Wales. He died at Reading on 7 May 1987.
David Gwyn Francis was educated at Jesus College, Oxford, where he was part of the college rugby team that won the Oxford University inter-collegiate cup in 1920. Francis also played for the University rugby team, winning his "Blue" in 1919. He won his first cap for Wales in 1919, playing at lock in a friendly against a New Zealand Services XV. In 1921 he took charge of Rugby at Reading School, and in 1924 captained London Welsh RFC and Surrey RFC. He won his second cap in 1924, playing against Scotland in the Home Nations Championship. He was a rugby referee for 28 years, and helped to found the Berkshire Rugby Football Union, serving as chairman for 24 years. A club room at Redingensians R.F.C. (a club that was formed for former pupils of Reading School) is named after Francis, as is a prize awarded by Berkshire rugby referees for club hospitality
