Francis provides a ray of light amid play-off gloom for Doncaster

Prop Tomas Francis has played only two games for the club but has already shown his promise.

He came off the bench to help Doncaster establish a platform in their second successive play-off defeat to Nottingham two weekends ago, and then six days later made a lasting impression as the Knights built a foundation at the set-piece to give London Welsh a real scare in a four-try performance.

Teenager Francis was signed from Malton & Norton. He is the youngest player at Castle Park and was recommended to head coach Brett Davey by forward Andy Boyde, who coaches Francis at Leeds University.

Signed on a development contract, Francis forced his way into the team at Esher in January.

“We just picked him up earlier in the season and he’s made a big impact,” said Davey. “He’s a project for us, and we hope to bring him on as far as we can over the next two years.”

Such was Davey’s pride at his side’s performance at Old Deer Park last Saturday that he has made just one change with Michael Heaney coming in at scrum-half for injured captain Chris Hallam.

Top-scorer Michael Keating is at full-back while Andy Brown returns from a short injury lay-off to take his place on the bench.

Davey wants his men to build on last week’s performance.

“Our rugby is the equal of anybody and when we’ve got a platform we’re pretty decent,” he said.

“When we get the set-piece working we’re a good proposition and we are more than capable of beating London Welsh.

“Nobody on this team wants to end the season on a downer.

“We want to give a reminder to everybody in this division that we are still capable of causing a stir next season.”