Francis Edward Cotton (born 3 January 1947) is a former

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...

forward who played for

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

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. Cotton was born in

Wigan Wigan ( ) is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, on the River Douglas. The town is midway between the two cities of Manchester, to the south-east, and Liverpool, to the south-west. Bolton lies to the north-east and Warrington t ...

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancash ...

, 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 Stephen, Steve, Stevie, or Steven Smith may refer to: Academics * Steve Smith (political scientist) (born 1952), British international relations theorist and senior university manager * Stephen Smith (journalist) (born 1956), American journalist, ...

and

Clive Rees Clive Frederick William Rees (born 6 October 1951 in Singapore) is a former Wales, Welsh rugby union player. He won thirteen cap (sport), caps as left wing for Wales national rugby union team, Wales between 1973 and 1983. Clive Rees's rugby car ...

. 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. With Steve Smith he founded the clothing company

Cotton Traders Cotton Traders is an English clothing company, specialising in rugby apparel and leisurewear, based in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It was founded in 1987 by former England national rugby union team captains Fran Cotton and Steve Smi ...

in 1987. In 2008 Cotton Traders was forced to pull out of

Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

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.Burma Campaign
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Charitable work

He is an honorary president of the rugby charity

Wooden Spoon Wooden Spoon may refer to: * Wooden spoon, implement * Wooden spoon (award) A wooden spoon is an award that is given to an individual or team that has come last in a competition. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous e ...

improving the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in Britain and Ireland.

References

External links

Sporting heroes 1
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotton, Fran 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