Frank Foster, former rugby league player and coach has passed away, aged 79. Frank played professional rugby in the 1960s and 1970s, and coached in the 1970s and 1980s.
He played at representative level for Great Britain and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, Hull Kingston Rovers, Bradford Northern, Barrow and Oldham, as a loose forward, during the era of contested scrums, and coached at club level for Barrow and Whitehaven.
A spokesperson from Whitehaven Rugby League said:
"It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of Frank Foster. Frank coached Haven in the 80’s as well as our Cumbrian Neighbours Barrow. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely sad time."
Frank played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Hull Kingston Rovers' 25-12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1966 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966, and played as an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 14, (replacing second-row John Hickson) in the 8-7 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1967 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 14 October 1967. He won a cap for Great Britain while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1967, against Australia.
1973 saw Barrow appoint their former player, Foster as coach. He built a side which won the Second Division championship in 1975/76, and reached a John Player Trophy Final in 1981, only to lose 5-12 to Warrington. Phil Hogan was transferred to Hull Kingston Rovers in 1978 for a then world record fee of £33,000. Barrow fluctuated between divisions and Foster was eventually replaced by Tommy Dawes in 1983.
He played at representative level for Great Britain and Cumberland, and at club level for Workington Town, Hull Kingston Rovers, Bradford Northern, Barrow and Oldham, as a loose forward, during the era of contested scrums, and coached at club level for Barrow and Whitehaven.
A spokesperson from Whitehaven Rugby League said:
"It is with sadness that we have learned of the passing of Frank Foster. Frank coached Haven in the 80’s as well as our Cumbrian Neighbours Barrow. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this extremely sad time."
Frank played right-second-row, i.e. number 12, in Hull Kingston Rovers' 25-12 victory over Featherstone Rovers in the 1966 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1966–67 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 15 October 1966, and played as an interchange/substitute, i.e. number 14, (replacing second-row John Hickson) in the 8-7 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1967 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1967–68 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 14 October 1967. He won a cap for Great Britain while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1967, against Australia.
1973 saw Barrow appoint their former player, Foster as coach. He built a side which won the Second Division championship in 1975/76, and reached a John Player Trophy Final in 1981, only to lose 5-12 to Warrington. Phil Hogan was transferred to Hull Kingston Rovers in 1978 for a then world record fee of £33,000. Barrow fluctuated between divisions and Foster was eventually replaced by Tommy Dawes in 1983.
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