Ben Franks to call its quits
Retiring two-time Rugby World Cup winner Ben Franks says representing the All Blacks alongside brother Owen ranks as one of the greatest highlights of his long career.
The 36-year-old prop confirmed he will hang up his boots at Northampton Saints at the end of the English premiership campaign after 15 first-class seasons.
Franks, a World Cup winner with the All Blacks in 2011 and 2015, told the Northampton website that ‘‘the end of this season is the right time for me to call time on my career’’.
‘‘I’ve loved my journey in rugby; from playing back home in New Zealand, to representing the All Blacks alongside my brother, and then coming over here,’’ he said.
Born in Motueka, Franks grew up there and in Christchurch, playing rugby at Christchurch Boy’s High School and having a stint at the Aranui High School rugby league academy.
The 1.85m 120kg prop, who was able to play at loosehead and tighthead, made his Canterbury debut in 2005. He also played national championship rugby for Tasman and Hawke’s Bay.
Franks first played Super Rugby in 2006, clocking up 85 games for the Crusaders before switching in 2013 to the Hurricanes, where he made 45 appearances.
He was coached at the Hurricanes by Chris Boyd, now director of rugby at the Northampton Saints,.
Boyd told the Saints website of Franks: ‘‘Amongst all the players I’ve ever coached, he is right up there amongst the most professional of them all.’’
The Franks brothers were noted in New Zealand for their dedicated approach to weight training. They owned a popular gymnasium in Christchurch and expanded the franchise to other New Zealand centres.
Ben Franks toured with the All Blacks to the northern hemisphere in 2008 and made his test debut against Ireland in New Plymouth in 2010.
He was an unused reserve in the 2011 World Cup final win over France in Auckland, covering brother Owen and Tony Woodcock from the bench.
He played the final quarter of the 2015 World Cup final victory over Australia in London, replacing Joe Moody for his 47th and final cap.
Franks quit New Zealand rugby after the 2015 tournament to join English club London Irish. He had 49 games there before rejoining Boyd at Northampton in 2018. He has since played 38 times for the Saints, helping them win the Premiership Cup title in his first season.
The Franks family firm resumed when Owen Franks, 32, joined Northampton this season.