Key Facts
| Squad | Richmond |
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| Position | Wing |
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| Age | 23 |
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| Height | 1.65m (5'5") |
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| Weight | 64kg (10st 1lb) |
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| Caps | 24 |
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Two of the six tries that Fran Matthews has scored at international level came in the 89-0 triumph over Scotland at Twickenham in March 2011. It turned back the clock to her two against Ireland in Dublin in 2009. She also set up a third try in that match for captain Catherine Spencer, having already made an impact in her first Nations Cup tournament the previous year.
Since then, she ran in two tries, the first in the second minute, when England A scored 39 points without reply against Russia in the European Trophy in May last year. The squad went on to win the title with four straight wins that brought 15 tries and 85 points. They beat hosts Spain 5-3 in the final, conceding only that penalty goal in the entire tournament.
Educated at Watchetts Junior and Kings International College in Camberley, she went on to East Durham and Houghall Community College in Durham where she took a BTEC National Diploma in Sports Fitness. England prop David Wilson was also a student there.
Fran, a former lifeguard at DC Leisure Arena in Camberley, played for her home town club from the age of six onwards from 1995-2005 and Blaydon before joining Richmond and has won the Six Nations Championship with England. Her younger sister Alex has six full caps. Fran now works as a gardener at GardenFX in Camberley and also as a fitness instructor at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford and has represented England at five levels – U19, U20, A, 7s and seniors.
Her trophy haul includes the Six Nations, the Nations Cup, her most memorable tournament in 2011, and the European 7s and 15s. Fran’s most recent triumph was when England defeated New Zealand 3-0 over the 2012 autumn international series. She has played at representative level in Canada, Italy, USA, France, Dubai, Spain, Holland and Russia and scored ten tries and a conversion for England in four Sevens tournaments, including World Series events at Guangzhou, China and Amsterdam in March and May this year.
Films, music, ski-ing, travel and culture, fitness and nutrition and baking cakes are on Fran’s relaxation time agenda. As well as her specialist role as a wing, she has appeared at centre and full back and her favourite ground is none other than HQ – Twickenham Stadium.
Last updated: May 20, 2013
