Fran Cotton

Born in Wigan in 1947, Fran Cotton is one of the great forwards of English rugby. A fearsome prop, at home at tighthead or loosehead, he won 31 England caps between 1971 and 1981, captained his country three times and led England at the first World Cup Sevens in 1973.

He toured three times with the British & Irish Lions. In South Africa in 1974 he played in all four Tests alongside Bobby Windsor and Ian McLauchlan, as the Lions won the series 3–0 and went unbeaten through 22 matches. In New Zealand in 1977 he switched to loosehead for three Tests against the All Blacks, and he was part of England’s 1980 Grand Slam side before illness cut short that summer’s Lions tour.

His club rugby took in Liverpool, Loughborough Colleges, Coventry and Sale. After a leg injury ended his playing days in 1981, he co-founded the Cotton Traders clothing company in 1987 with England team-mate Steve Smith, and in 1997 returned to South Africa as manager of the Lions, alongside Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer.

Matchday at Aldwinians RUFC is about more than what happens between the first and final whistle. On selected matchdays, our clubhouse serves a pre-match meal ahead of the afternoon’s fixture.

The aim is to make it easy to arrive early, grab a seat, enjoy some food and then head outside to support the rugby. The format is simple: good food, good conversation and a chance for the audience to put their questions to Fran.