Owen Franks
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
.jpg) Franks during the World Cup celebration parade, October 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Full name | Owen Thomas Franks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 23 December 1987 Motueka, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 122 kg (269 lb; 19 st 3 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Christchurch Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable relative | Ben Franks (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Owen Thomas Franks (born 23 December 1987) is a New Zealand former rugby player who last played for Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition.[2] His usual position is tighthead prop.[3]
Franks has previously represented the Canterbury Rugby Football Union in the Mitre 10 Cup, the Crusaders in the international Super Rugby competition and New Zealand at international level. He made his debut for New Zealand in 2009 and played 108 tests across a 10-year period, making him one of the most-capped rugby players of all time. He was a member of the squads that won the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups, and is one of only 21 players who have won the Rugby World Cup on multiple occasions. Franks did not score any points for New Zealand during his international career. He holds the record for most international caps without scoring any points in a game.
Early career
Franks attended Christchurch Boys' High School. His local rugby club is Linwood. He represented New Zealand at Under-21 and Secondary School level.
While at Christchurch Boys' High School, Franks appeared alongside fellow All Blacks Colin Slade and Matt Todd, as well as former Crusaders Nasi Manu and Tim Bateman.[4]
Provincial
Franks made his debut for Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup in 2007. He was also Campbell Johnstone's understudy before he left for France and Franks assumed the tighthead duties for the Canterbury team. His older brother, Ben Franks is also a prop and has played alongside Owen.
Super Rugby
Franks made his debut for the Crusaders in 2009 as a substitute against the Western Force but made his first start in the victory over the Bulls and his stellar performance also secured him an All Black contract. Relatively small in stature, he is known for his great scrummaging technique and mobility around the field. He is also very strong, with the ability to squat 280 kg.
Franks scored a try for the Crusaders against the Brumbies at Jade Stadium on Friday 14 May 2010. It was to be his last Super Rugby try until almost 14 years later when he scored against the Melbourne Rebels.
In 2015, against the Highlanders, Franks became the 13th Crusader to have played over 100 games for the Crusaders.
Franks started in the Crusaders' historic fixture against the touring British and Irish Lions team on 10 June 2017, playing 50 minutes before being replaced by Michael Alaalatoa as the Lions beat the Crusaders 12–3. Franks won the 2017 Super Rugby season later in the year, with the Crusaders beating the Lions 25–17 at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. The Crusaders' win was their eighth title and first since 2008.
Premiership Rugby
On 14 February 2019, Franks travelled to England to sign for Northampton Saints in the Premiership Rugby ahead of the 2019–20 season, where he played alongside his brother Ben Franks at Franklin's Gardens.[5]
Return to Super Rugby
On 14 May 2021, Franks moved back to New Zealand to join Hurricanes ahead of the 2022 Super Rugby competition. Franks made his Hurricanes debut on the 8th of May 2022 in Wellington against the Fijian Drua.[6]
Franks rejoined the Crusaders for the 2024 Super Rugby season.[7] When Franks scored for the Crusaders against the Melbourne Rebels on Friday 26 April 2024 it was his first Super Rugby try in 14 years.[8] His previous try in this competition was against the Brumbies in Christchurch in May 2010.
