Francis Escott ‘Frank’ Hancock moved to Cardiff from his native Devon in 1884 as director of his family’s brewing business. Already an established Somerset player, he made his Cardiff debut against Cheltenham College in February 1884, scoring two tries.
His impressive performance led Cardiff to change their established formation to accommodate him for the following match against Gloucester. The club moved from three to four three-quarters, helping to establish the four three-quarter system that would become a defining feature of Cardiff rugby in the years that followed.
Hancock made 50 appearances for Cardiff between 1884 and 1886, scoring 35 tries, and captained the side during the 1885–86 season. His influence on the development of the game was later recognised when both Hancock and Cardiff were inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
