Franco van der Merwe
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| Date of birth | 15 March 1983 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Paarl, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 116 kg (18 st 4 lb; 256 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hartswater High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | North-West University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Franco van der Merwe (born 15 March 1983 in Paarl) is a South African rugby union footballer. His regular playing position is lock, although he can also operate as a flanker. Previous clubs include Irish side Ulster in the Pro12, London Irish in Premiership Rugby, the Lions in Super Rugby and the Leopards and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup.
He also joined the Sharks on loan for the 2013 Super Rugby season.[1]
Van der Merwe has been included in several Springbok squads since June 2012 and finally made his debut in the 2013 Rugby Championship match against New Zealand.[2]
He left the Lions to join Irish side Ulster prior to the 2014–15 Pro12 season.[3] He signed a two-year deal starting on 1 August 2014.[citation needed]
Van der Merwe was signed by Pro14 side Cardiff Blues for the 2017 season, however on 1 August 2017 he was released by the club due to club based "financial challenges".[citation needed]
On 25 August 2017, he was named amongst the starting XV for a pre-season friendly game for London Irish against Richmond on a club trial.[4] On 31 August it was announced he had been signed by the club.[5] He was released ahead of the 2020–21 season.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Lions to confirm mass exodus". Sport24. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "All Blacks break Springboks' hearts in epic". ESPN. 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "Franco replaces Johann at Ulster". Rugby365. 24 April 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
- ^ "MATCH REPORT: London Irish finish pre-season in style at Richmond | 27th August 2017 | News". London Irish. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Franco van der Merwe: London Irish sign South Africa lock after Cardiff Blues release". BBC Sport. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
- ^ "Thank you to the leavers | 4th July 2020 | News". London Irish. 4 July 2020. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
External links
[edit]- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Franco van der Merwe". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- Lions profile
- itsrugby.co.uk profile
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- Living people
- 1983 births
- South African rugby union players
- South Africa international rugby union players
- Golden Lions players
- Lions (United Rugby Championship) players
- Sharks (rugby union) players
- Leopards (rugby union) players
- London Irish players
- Rugby union players from Paarl
- Rugby union locks
- Rugby union flankers
- North-West University alumni
- Afrikaner people
- Ulster Rugby players
- South African expatriate sportspeople in Northern Ireland
- Expatriate rugby union players in Northern Ireland
- South African expatriate rugby union players in England
- South African rugby union biography stubs