Owen Franks to join brother at Northampton Saints
One of the best props of the modern era, All Blacks and BNZ Crusaders centurion Owen Franks has announced he will be leaving New Zealand Rugby at the end of 2019.
Franks will head to English club Northampton Saints at the end of the year where he will play alongside brother Ben.
One of only 20 players to win the Rugby World Cup twice, the 31-year-old tighthead prop follows brother Ben to Franklin’s Gardens after making almost 150 appearances in the Super Rugby competition.
Since making his All Blacks debut in 2009, Franks has notched up over a century of international caps for his country, lifting the Webb Ellis Cup twice along the way – on home soil in 2011 and then at Twickenham in 2015.
“The Crusaders, All Blacks and Canterbury Rugby have been a big part of my life, and my family’s lives, for more than a decade now, and I’m grateful for every opportunity I’ve had to live my dream in those jerseys,” Franks said.
“I’d like to thank Chris Boyd and Northampton Saints for showing faith in me and giving me this opportunity to come and play in the Gallagher Premiership,” he said.
“I’ve always taken a keen interest in northern hemisphere rugby so I’m looking forward to coming to the UK and proving myself, while the prospect of playing at Franklin’s Gardens in front of Northampton’s passionate supporters is hugely exciting for me and my family.
“New Zealand will always be home, but Northampton presents a great opportunity for me to test myself in a new rugby environment, and reconnect with family there.
One of only 20 players to win the Rugby World Cup twice, the 31-year-old tighthead prop follows brother Ben to Franklin’s Gardens after making almost 150 appearances in the Super Rugby competition.
Since making his All Blacks debut in 2009, Franks has notched up over a century of international caps for his country, lifting the Webb Ellis Cup twice along the way – on home soil in 2011 and then at Twickenham in 2015.
“While I know I’ll look back at the end of my time in New Zealand with an immense amount of pride, I still have a lot I want to achieve this year and some big goals to tick off before I leave.”
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) CEO Steve Tew has led the tributes to Franks.
“Owen set the standard for professional players in his unwavering commitment to preparation and playing the game at the highest level. While he will be with us for one more season, now is the opportunity to acknowledge everything he has done for the game.
“He was the third youngest prop to ever pull on the All Blacks jersey, a testament to his drive and dedication from an early age, and is one of just nine All Blacks centurions. It’s that consistency as well as his quiet, no-nonsense approach to the game that fans love about Owie and he will leave our shores as an All Blacks legend.
“We wish him all the best in his final season with us.”
All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen added: “Owie is one of the most professional players I’ve had the privilege of coaching. The standards he sets for himself – and others – are exemplary.
“His unbelievable commitment to his preparation, on-field and gym training, diet and his game is there for all to see, and inspires others. He has done this from the first time he made the All Blacks in 2009, has continued that throughout his whole career, and his achievement in reaching 106 Tests to date reflects that.
“We wish Owen, wife Emma and their family all the very best when their new adventure starts next year.”
BNZ Crusaders Head Coach Scott Robertson said: “Owen is the ultimate professional. His preparation and work ethic is unparalleled, and he trains tirelessly to be the best in his position.
“He is what we hope every young prop coming through the Crusaders region aspires to be like, and we look forward to a huge 2019 season alongside him”
BNZ Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge added: “Owen is a huge part of the fabric of the Crusaders, and continues to set the standard for front rowers worldwide.
“Despite all that he has achieved, Owen remains a humble competitor, and driven to achieve more – so it comes as no surprise to us that he has decided to pursue a new rugby challenge at the end of the year.
“Fortunately, we will have one final season with Owen in 2019, but we wish him and his family all the very best for their next chapter.”
Canterbury Rugby CEO Tony Smail said: “On behalf of Canterbury Rugby, we thank Owen for his loyalty to the red and black jersey since making his debut back in 2007. We’re proud of all he has gone on to achieve in New Zealand throughout his rugby career and congratulate him on the legacy he’ll leave at every level of the game.”
Owen Frank is one of the best tighthead props in the modern era and a legend of the game.
Born in Motueka at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, he was schooled at Christchurch Boys’ High School and played his club rugby for Linwood.
An uncompromising training regime from a young age saw him develop his physical presence and rugby knowledge and he made the New Zealand Under 21 team and his provincial debut for Canterbury in 2007.
Franks went on to make his Crusaders debut in 2009 and in June that year made his All Blacks debut against Italy at the age of 21 years and 186 days, the third-youngest prop to play for the All Blacks.
He became a Super Rugby centurion in the Crusaders match against the Highlanders in 2015 and an All Blacks Test centurion in Investec Rugby Championship Test against Australia in Auckland last year.
He has started 96 of his 106 Tests to date, the second-highest number of starts by an All Blacks prop, behind former teammate Tony Woodcock. A double World Cup winner, Franks played in all seven All Blacks matches at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and six at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
The World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
19 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments