[2] Francis made his Auckland début in 1904 and scored a penalty in the 1905 Ranfurly Shield victory over Wellington.

Francis made his All Blacks début in 1905 against Australia and became an automatic selection, playing in a total of ten Test matches in the next five years.

In 1910 Francis and teammate George A. Gillett rescued Anglo-Welsh Lions player Percy Down, who had fallen into the sea, keeping him afloat until a rope was lowered from the ship upon which Down was about to return to Great Britain.

[2] Francis switched codes in 1911 during the season, joining the Auckland Rugby League competition.

Arthur Francis played as a forward in Wigan's 21–5 victory over Rochdale Hornets in the 1912 Lancashire Cup Final during the 1912–13 season at Weaste, Salford, on Wednesday 11 December 1912.