We were sad to hear that our former World Cup player Frank Wilson, sadly passed away early on Friday morning at the age of 80.
Frank played for Wales in the 1975 World Championship which included the infamous 1975 “Battle of Brisbane” win over England. It was one of his 14 caps for Wales after making his international debut against England in 1969. His only senior international try came in our opening game of the 1975 World Championship, which was against France.
He also played in five tour matches for us on the 1975 tour to Australia and New Zealand, scoring two tries in the win over New Zealand Maoris.
Originally, Frank played rugby union for Cardiff RFC where he was the first non-white player to be a regular in the side. He had scored 22 tries in 37 rugby union appearances for the capital side, plus a try for East Wales in their 3-3 draw with the All Blacks in 1967, which was enough to bring his talents to the attention of St Helens, who signed him to replace Tom van Vollenhoven.
Frank didn’t disappoint. He topped the club try scoring charts in his first season with 25 including a brace in the Lancashire Cup Final against Oldham. He also picked up BBC2 Floodlit Trophy and Challenge Cup Final and League Championship medals. His final game for Saints was in Auckland, on their end-of-season tour and was on the bench for the inaugural World Club Challenge game against Eastern Suburbs at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
So after 310 appearances and 176 tries for St Helens, he went on to have spells at Workington Town, Warrington – where he picked up a League Cup winners medal, Salford and Cardiff City Blue Dragons before retiring after scoring 210 tries in 435 appearances in his club career.
Frank was later head coach of both University of Manchester RL and New Broughton Rangers. He also worked alongside Clive Griffiths on the Rugby Football League’s National Coaching Scheme, as together they ran courses in St.Helens, Warrington and Widnes. He was inducted into the St Helens RFC Hall of Fame in 2022.
Griffiths said: “Frank, you will be sorely missed my friend. He was a true gentleman, loved and respected by all, and was Welsh through and through.
“Frank was a great player in both codes, good enough to play rugby union for Wales but unfortunately he played union in the wrong era. He was also a class rugby league coach.
“We did actually play rugby union against each other after we’d retired from league. It was Liverpool St.Helens 4ths vs Broughton Park 4ths. He scowled angrily at me before kick-off saying that he was ‘going to get me’ then as we changed ends he ran over to me, laughing, grabbed my head and kissed me on the forehead! Priceless.”
Everyone at Wales Rugby League sends their sincerest condolences to all of his family and friends.
Frank Wilson 05/04/1944-27/12/2024
