Wales prop Francis targets fourth World Cup

Following the 2023 World Cup, Francis took a break from international rugby after leaving Ospreys to join French Pro D2 side Provence.

"I think for about two-and-a half years I was away for eight nights and I had two young girls," said Francis.

"As a father you can't get that time back. I'd given my all for two World Cup cycles, so for Welsh rugby and me, it was right to have a little time away.

"It gave time [for Wales] to find other options and give others games."

Francis never closed the door on returning.

"I told Gats [former Wales head coach Warren Gatland] if you need me I am around and he passed that onto Steve [Tandy]," said Francis.

"You always want that chance to put that jersey on and it's been amazing to get back out there."

And Francis says still gets the pre-match butterflies.

"I still want to run away on game day and not go and play and those are the nerves that drive me," said Francis.

"I live on those nerves on game day. The day I lose that, I'll know it's time not to be here."

Francis was not part of the Wales squad that lost a record 18 Tests in a row or suffered 21 losses in 23 internationals between October 2023 and February 2026.

Wales never really replaced him and he returned for this year's Six Nations after a Test break of 26 months.

He was a replacement in the opening defeats against England in February with Archie Griffin starting, before Francis was handed the number three shirt for the next four matches, including the final win against Italy.

Francis was given the summer off by Wales as he moved from France to Manchester where he linked up with English side Sale.

"The rugby's been good, there's some world-class players there," said Francis.

"The environment's a bit different to the second division in France in that respect, but I've enjoyed it.

"The results haven't gone for us yet, but it's a new team.

"There are exciting youngsters there and they've also brought in some old heads. Hopefully we can kick on when we click."

Francis returned to Wales for this November campaign after being named in the squad alongside fellow tight-head props Griffin and Dillon Lewis, who started the first three Nations Championship matches in July.

With Griffin starting the 28-21 win against Japan in Cardiff last weekend, Francis, who is the oldest member of the squad, came off the replacements bench to win his 83rd cap.

Wales emulated their victory against Japan in Cardiff in November 2025 but Francis states the post-match reaction was different.

"In the changing room afterwards, we weren't celebrating like the last time we beat Japan," said Francis.

"It was quite sombre because we knew we hadn't hit the heights we wanted to.

"We'd left points out there and hadn't put in the performance we wanted so we're now not celebrating just scraping a win.

"We're looking at what's next and asking how we get better."

The New Zealand challenge is next as Wales look to break a 34-match losing sequence against the All Blacks that stretches back to 1953.

Francis says it is these sort of event that attracted him back to the international stage.

"It was an amazing occasion," said Francis.

"I remember watching Wales play New Zealand in Cardiff last year when I was in France. I sat at home and got goosebumps."

With concerns about the size of the Cardiff crowd, Francis hopes Wales can inspire and be inspired by the home faithful.

"We talk about the Principality Stadium as a group, that we want to try and get the crowd in the game as much as possible," said Francis.

"For me, it might be a scrum or a maul penalty or it could be Zammo [Louis Rees-Zammit] or Blair [Murray] going through tackles.

"You hear the electricity in that stadium and it lifts us. The more moments we can develop like that, the more fans we can get to watch and the more we keep pushing each other.

"It's the best ground in the world with the roof closed and when the supporters are behind you, it's amazing."