Fran Cotton was first selected for the British & Irish Lions in 1971 as a reserve for the All Blacks tour. Capable of playing on both sides of the scrum, Cotton’s versatility saw him called upon again for the legendary tour to South Africa in 1974. Cotton played all four test matches as a tight head and was a key figure in the series victory. He toured for the final time as a player in 1977 but this time he played at loose head and captained the side in provincial matches. In 1997 Cotton returned to the Lions set up as Manager of the squad that toured South Africa, beating the Springboks 2-1.