An under-rated scrummager who maintained a constant presence in the Canterbury match-day squad during the Air New Zealand Cup, where he featured in nine of the team's 12 matches.

Franks will be looking to add to his debut experience as a Crusader. The Linwood prop, who has represented New Zealand in both the Under-19 (South Africa 2003) and Under-21 (Argentina 2005) grades, featured in two matches for the Crusaders last term, gaining his only start against the Cats.

Career Notes
• Initially on loan to Tasman in 2007 – but returned to Canterbury to replace his brother in the Air New Zealand Cup team.
• Had two “part” games against Chiefs and Cats in 2006, but played in every game for the Crusaders in 2007 and rested for one in 2008.
• Played just the last six minutes of Canterbury’s 2005 season.
• Played in every game for NZ Under 21 in 2004.
• Scored three tries (2 + 1) against South Africa Under 21 in 2004.
• Regular Canterbury age group representative.
• His brother Owen has represented New Zealand Secondary Schools 2005.

New Zealand Representative Teams
New Zealand U19 in 2003
New Zealand U21 in 2004, 2005
Below figures correct at beginning of the 2007 rugby calendar:

Provincial Caps 10
Provincial Debut 2005 v Otago
Super 14 Caps: 2
Super 14 Points:
Super 14 Debut: 2006 v Chiefs

FULL NAME

Ben John Franks

BORN

Tuesday, 27 March 1984 in Melbourne

AGE

26

PHYSICAL

1.83m, 114kg

POSITION

Prop

LAST SCHOOL

Aranui High

RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from)

Linwood

PROVINCE

Canterbury

SUPER 14 TEAM

Crusaders

ALL BLACK DEBUT

Tuesday, 18 November 2008
v Munster at Limerick
aged 24 years, 236 days

INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Saturday, 12 June 2010
v Ireland at New Plymouth
aged 26 years, 77 days

LAST TEST

Saturday, 21 August 2010
v South Africa at Johannesburg
aged 26 years, 147 days

ALL BLACK TESTS

7 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK GAMES

1 (0 as Captain)

TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES

8 (0 as Captain)

ALL BLACK TEST POINTS

5pts (1t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK GAME POINTS

0pts

TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS

5pts (1t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m)

ALL BLACK NUMBER

1084

The All Black Games that Franks has played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced

Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card

2008

 18 Nov vs Munster at Limerick 18-16 (-) 

2010

 12 Jun vs Ireland at New Plymouth 66-28  

 19 Jun vs Wales at Dunedin 42-9 (-) 

 10 Jul vs South Africa at Auckland 32-12 (+) 

 17 Jul vs South Africa at Wellington 31-17 (+) 

 31 Jul vs Australia at Melbourne 49-28 (+) 

 7 Aug vs Australia at Christchurch 20-10 (+) 

 21 Aug vs South Africa at Johannesburg 29-22 (-) 

Points scored for the All Blacks

t

c

p

dg

pts

vs Ireland, 12 Jun 2010

1

-

-

-

5

Totals

1

0

0

0

5

Test Record by Nation

P

W

D

L

t

c

p

dg

pts

Australia

2

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ireland

1

1

-

-

1

-

-

-

5

South Africa

3

3

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Wales

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Totals

7

7

0

0

1

0

0

0

5