Francis Gregory (sportsman)

Francis Gregory (April→June 1904 – death unknown) birth registered in Bodmin, was a Cornish wrestler of the 1920s, and 1930s, Cornish wrestling referee (stickler) of the 1960s, Professional boxer of the 1920s, rugby union footballer of the 1920s, and 1930s, playing club level rugby union (RU) for Redruth R.F.C., professional wrestler of the 1930s through to 1963, and professional rugby league footballer of the 1930s, and 1940s, playing representative level rugby league (RL) for England, and at club level for Wigan, and Warrington, as Prop, or Second-row, i.e. number 8 or 10, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums. Francis Gregory wrestled professionally under the name Francis St. Clair Gregory, his sobriquet of 'St. Clair' is purportedly the name of town in Brittany visited by Cornish wrestlers for wrestling tournaments.

Francis Gregory is considered the most notable Cornish Wrestler since the foundation of the Cornish Wrestling Association in 1923, and the last of the "Great" Cornish wrestlers, he was the youngest member of the squad that took part in a two-week-long exhibition to promote Cornish wrestling at the London Palladium in the 1920s, he represented Cornwall as heavyweight champion against Brittany at the first seven Cornu-Breton tournaments, winning on every occasion, including victories over the famous Breton champions; René Scordia, and Robert Cadic, he was known as "The Champion Who Never Smiled".