Tomas Francis worth his weight to Wales in Rugby World Cup build-up

If the Exeter tighthead, who has shed four stone since university, impresses on debut in Ireland, he could face his native England at TwickenhamWhen Wales were preparing for the last World Cup, Tomas Francis was studying for a degree in mechanical engineering at Leeds University and playing in the front row for the second team, where his weight of more than 24st meant their scrum rarely went backwards.A career in professional rugby, never mind at Test level, was not even a distant dream for the student who enjoyed the social side of the amateur game. After a season in the Premiership with Exet…