Cummins, Francis

Francis CUMMINS [Player Stats]


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Cup Draw will excite players - Cummins
Wed April 4, 2007
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Rhinos Assistant Coach Francis Cummins says that the Leeds players will be excited by drawing Wigan in the Fifth Round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

The two sides meet each other next Tuesday in the engage Super League at Headingley Carnegie, kick off 8pm, but there is a five week wait before the sides will clash in the Cup on the weekend of the 12/13th May.

Cummins, who was a veteran of two Wembley Cup Finals against Wigan in 1994 and 1995, thinks both teams will be lifted by a mouth watering draw. "From our point of view, all you can ask for is a home draw at this stage. Any Super League team is going to be a tough draw this season but I suppose a lot will be made of the history of this tie down the years.

"Easter is a tough period of games anyway so next Tuesday's game did not need any extra spice and there is a long way to go before we face each other in the Cup. We have got a very tough month in April but I'm sure once the week of the Cup comes round both sets of players will be excited about the challenge," added Cummins.

The record breaking former winger played when the two sides last met in the Challenge Cup back in 1999 at the Fourth Round stage when Leeds won 28-18 at Headingley Carnegie and went on to lift the trophy at the last final at the old Wembley. Cummins was a try scoring in that Final as he was in 1994 when he was the youngest ever player to play at Wembley, a record he still holds.

"You can't live in the past. When I first started out Wigan were the Cup Kings and their record in the competition is unparalleled. I'm sure things will get brought up about previous games in the build up to the game but that won't mean anything to this group of players. Every player left in the competition will be desperate to play at the new Wembley and write their own name in the record books.

"All three of my Finals at Wembley hold special memories for me and that try in 1994 is something that will live with me for the rest of my life. It is what makes the Carnegie Challenge Cup so special," added Cummins.

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com


Cummins promoted for Rhinos
Mon July 10, 2006
Source: www.leedsrugby.com

Leeds Rhinos stalwart Francis Cummins has been promoted to be Tony Smith's Assistant following the departure of Brian McDermott to Harlequins RL this weekend.

Cummins, 29, retired at the end of last season after 12 years as a player with the Rhinos and is the sixth highest try scorer of all time for the club with 188 tries since making his debut as a 16 year old back in 1993. He joined the Rhinos from St John Fisher ARL and has worked under six coaches during his time at Headingley Carnegie.

Commenting on his appointment Head Coach Tony Smith said, "We always had a senior coaching position in mind for Francis and now that the opportunity has arisen I am pleased to promote him to be my assistant. He is a true professional both on and off the field and he has impressed everyone over the past 18 months with how he has taken to coaching.

"Another factor that is particularly pleasing is that Francis is a Leeds man through and through. He has played at the club since he was a youngster and knows how much it means to represent this great club. It is great that we have people within our organisation that we can promote from within and know that we are replacing quality with quality.

"Brian McDermott has been a great contributor to my coaching and I am grateful for all the effort he has put in. He is leaving with our blessings and I wouldn't be surprised if he was to return to the Rhinos one day as a possible head coach. It has been a great partnership and I'm looking forward to the next one with Francis Cummins," added Smith.

News sent by: www.leedsrugby.com

====================================================================================================== 2005 English Super League Leeds Rhinos 3 games; [View] Round 21 [15 Jul 05] W 54-14 v Salford (H). [BE] [View] Round 22 [23 Jul 05] W 46-22 v Warrington (A). [BE] [View] Round 28 [16 Sep 05] W 34-26 v Wildcats (H). [BE] ======================================================================================================

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