WATKINS TO LEAD WALES

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33819, 16 April 1975, Page 38

WATKINS TO LEAD WALES

(By J

JOHN COFFEY)

■ David Watkins, an (outstanding inside back in both Rugby codes, [will captain the Welsh team in the first round of the international 'league championship in Australia and New Zealand in June. It seemed that Watkins’s career had ended when he suffered a crippling knee injury in Australia with the British side last year. But he has made a fine come-back for the Salford club in England after spending four months out of action. COACHING JOB Watkins, aged 32, had applied for the position of coach for the Welsh squad before he resumed playing. He first visited this country with the Lions in 1966. The other double international in the team is the forward, John Mantle, who represented Wal?s at Rugby three times in 1964 before switching codes and earning selection for Great Britain. Although two wings who appeared in union tests before touring Australia and New Zeaiand as league players last year, John Bevan (whose wife is ill) and Maurice Richards (for business reasons), were not available, Wales will not be lacking in experience. TEST COLLEAGUES ' David Willicombe (centre), Jim Mills (prop), and Colin Dixon (second-row) were team-mates of Watkins’s in the British party 12 months ago, and Mike Nicholas!

! (second-row) was forced to I withdraw when he broke a cheek bone in the Challenge I Cup final at Wembley. [ The introduction of Wales into world competition for the first time has also led to the return of Clive Sullivan (wing), Bill Francis (centre or full-back), and Tony Fisher (hooker) to international football. FRANCIS RETURNS Sullivan captained Britain to victory in the 1972 World Cup tournament in France, having appeared in the corresponding series in 1968 and touring New Zealand with the 1970 British squad. Fisher was the regular test hooker in that year. An even more familiar figure, especially in Wellington, will be Francis. He spent the southern winter of 1973 with the Waterside club and was a centre for Wellington in inter-provincial fixtures. Francis is one of five Englishmen — the others are David Treasure, Peter Banner, Dick Evans, and Eddie Cunningham — who qualify because they have Welsh grandparents. Even without Bevan and Richards, the Welsh will have a wing who has done well against the All Blacks in the past. Frank Wilson, who left Cardiff for St Helens eight years ago, scored the try that almost gave East Wales the honour of being the only! team to beat Brian Lochore’sl 1967 tourists. But a try by Tonv Steel over on the other! flank just -before full-time! tied the scores at 3-3. The squad is.— Baek.—Francis (Wigan). RoyMatthias (St Helens). Sullivan j (Hull Kingston Rovers), Willicombe i Wigan). Watkins (Salford,’ captain), Wilson (St Helens;, Turner (Hull Kingston Rovers), Treasure (Oldham). Banner (Salford). Forwards, — Mills (Widnes), Fisher (Leeds), Evans (Swinton), Brian Butler (Swinton), Bobby Wanbon (Warrington), Mantle (St Helens), Dixon (Salford). Nicholas (Warrington), Cunningham (St Helens). Kel Coslett (St Helens, vice-captain). Peter Rowe (Blackpool Borough).