Fran Cotton
| Birth name | Francis Edward Cotton | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 3 January 1947 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Wigan, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 105 kg (16 st 7 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Newton-le-Willows Grammar School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Loughborough University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | businessman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Francis Edward Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former rugby union prop forward who played for England and the British Lions. His clubs included Coventry R.F.C. and Sale. After retiring, he remained in rugby administration and founded a clothing company. In 2007, Cotton returned to his former club Sale as a member of the club's board.[3]
Cotton was born in Wigan, Lancashire, and went to Loughborough University to study physical education. Cotton was ahead of his time in terms of physical preparation. It was during these years that Cotton would win the Glengarth Sevens at Stockport Rugby Club along with Steve Smith and Clive Rees. Cotton made his England debut against Scotland in 1971, and played for them 31 times. He also captained the English team three times.
He represented the Lions on their tours to South Africa in 1974, New Zealand in 1977 and South Africa in 1980. It was during the game against the Junior All Blacks on the 1977 tour that the famous 'Mudman' image of Cotton, waiting for the ball at a lineout while caked head-to-toe in mud, was taken. Captured by Colorsport's Colin Elsey, it became one of the most iconic images of rugby union.
Cotton was the Tour Manager for the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa.[4]
With Steve Smith he founded the clothing company Cotton Traders in 1987. In 2008 Cotton Traders was forced to pull out of Burma after an investigation by the Burma Campaign UK uncovered the company was sourcing clothing from Burma. Clothing exports generate significant income for the Burmese dictatorship.[5]
Charitable work
[edit]He is an honorary president of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland.
References
[edit]- ^ "History - the History of the British & Irish Lions".
- ^ COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP HONOURS BILL BEAUMONT, By Simon Mills, Community Rugby Media Manager
- ^ Union legend Cotton returns to Sale Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Fordyce, Tom. "British and Irish Lions: The inside story of Living with Lions". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
- ^ Burma Campaign
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
- 1947 births
- Living people
- Alumni of Loughborough University
- British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England
- British businesspeople
- Coventry R.F.C. players
- England international rugby sevens players
- England international rugby union players
- English rugby union players
- English sportswriters
- Lancashire County RFU players
- Loughborough Students RUFC players
- Male rugby sevens players
- North of England Rugby Union team
- Rugby union players from Wigan
- Rugby union props
- Liverpool St Helens F.C. players