Franklyn Michael David Knill

Franklyn Michael David Knill

Franklyn Michael David Knill was born in Monkton, Pembrokeshire, on 22 December 1941 and educated at Pembroke Grammar School. He became a police sergeant in the Vale of Glamorgan. He played the majority of his club rugby for Cardiff where he gained a reputation as a formidable scrummaging prop, equally at home at tight- and loose-head. His misfortune was that his playing career coincided with that of the Pontypool front row but in the 1976 Grand Slam match against France he gained his only Wales' cap as an early replacement for the injured Graham Price. The Barbarians recognised Mike Knill's potential, inviting him on 12 occasions, including the 1976 tour to Canada, and the matches against Australia in 1976 and the British Isles at Twickenham the following year.In the twilight of his career he joined Penarth and in 1980, at the age of 38, captained them to a famous 29-22 victory over the Barbarians on Good Friday.