Fran Clough

{{Short description|England international rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Fran Clough

| image =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|11|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wigan, Greater Manchester

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| university = Cambridge University

| ru_currentposition =

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| position = Centre

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| clubs1 = Orrell R.U.F.C.

| clubs2 = Wasps RFC

| clubs3 = Bedford Blues

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| repyears1 = 1986-1987

| repteam1 = {{nrut|England}}

| repcaps1 = 4

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}}

Francis John Clough is a retired England rugby union player who played as a centre four times for England in the period 1986-7, including the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He was born November 1, 1962, in Wigan.{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/england/rugby/player/9869.html|title=Francis John Clough|publisher=}} He played rugby league for England Schoolboys in 1979. Clough initially studied at Durham University, where he made appearances for Durham University RFC and graduated with a degree in Applied Physics in 1984.{{cite web |title=Memorable Durham season |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/memorable-durham-season-1615986 |website=Evening Chronicle |accessdate=7 September 2019 |date=3 May 2004}}{{cite journal |title=Results of Final Examinations, June 1984 |journal=Durham University Gazette 1983/84 |date=1984 |page=93 |url=http://reed.dur.ac.uk/xtf/view?docId=bookreader/DU_Gazettes/DUGazette1983-4/DUGazette19834METS.xml#page/96/mode/2up}} He moved on to Cambridge – at the time it was commonplace for Cambridge to recruit Durham graduates to represent Cambridge University RFC.{{cite web |last1=Watkins |first1=Alan |title=Rugby Union: A ritual losing its meaning |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-union-a-ritual-losing-its-meaning-1465904.html |website=The Independent |accessdate=7 September 2019 |date=7 December 1993}}{{cite web |title=Olympians and Internationals |url=https://www.hawksclub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Hawks-Olympians-Internationals-A5-2nd-Edition-booklet-V2.pdf |publisher=Hawks' Club |access-date=31 March 2024 |page=12 |date=October 2017}}

Brian Moore once placed him in his all time touring 15.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/11201000/Brian-Moores-all-time-greatest-touring-XV.html?frame=3091752|title=Brian Moore's all-time greatest touring XV|publisher=}}

During his career he played club rugby for Orrell R.U.F.C., Wasps RFC{{cite web|url=http://www.waspslegends.co.uk/legend/fran-clough/|title=: Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation|publisher=|access-date=11 January 2017|archive-date=9 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909074410/http://www.waspslegends.co.uk/legend/fran-clough/|url-status=dead}} and Bedford Blues.

Fran Clough is the Surmaster at St Paul’s School, London.