Owen Thomas Franks (born 23 December 1987) is a New Zealand former rugby player who last played for Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition. His usual position is tighthead prop.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Franks rejoined the Crusaders for the 2024 Super Rugby season. 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. His previous try in this competition was against the Brumbies in Christchurch in May 2010.
His first match for New Zealand came against Italy in 2009, which the All Blacks won 27–6. Franks was chosen for the 2009 Tri-Nations tournament in New Zealand's first match against Australia. He went on to play the next two games against South Africa before playing once again against Australia. Franks played the penultimate match against South Africa but missed the final match, with Neemia Tialata playing instead. He then came on as a sub against Wales during an international test in November. A week later he started in a win over England and went on to be victorious over France a week later.
Franks became a regular starter for the All Blacks in 2010, supplanting the long-serving Neemia Tialata as New Zealand's first-choice tighthead prop. On 12 June 2010 he played against Ireland with his brother Ben also in the team. They went on to play both of the home test matches against Wales in June. He continued to play in the Tri-Nations tournament, starting the first four matches against South Africa and Australia. His brother Ben played the third test against South Africa but he missed out. However he appeared in the final Tri Nation match against Australia at Sydney winning 23–22 and in the lost Halloween test against Australia in Hong Kong. He took part in four of New Zealand's November test wins over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
Franks and his older brother Ben were both selected for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Franks started in all of the knockout rounds, playing the full 80 minutes of the World Cup final against France on 23 October 2011, with the replacement prop, his brother Ben, not making the field. New Zealand won against France 8–7, with Franks collecting his winners' medal as All Black captain Richie McCaw lifted the trophy, with New Zealand winning the competition for the second time, having won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. According to the book, Cory Jane Winging It, Random Tales from the Right Wing, by former All Blacks teammate Cory Jane and Scott Stevenson, Franks and brother Ben are said to have celebrated the All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2011 victory by squatting the next day 280 kg for 10 Repetitions.
Franks carried a heavy workload for the All Blacks in 2012, appearing in 13 tests. Franks started 12 times in 2012 with the exception of the third Bledisloe Cup test against Australia on 20 October as he replaced newcomer Charlie Faumuina off the bench as the All Blacks drew against the Wallabies 18-18.
Franks' contribution to the All Blacks in 2013 was not as significant due to injuries, with Charlie Faumuina covering for Franks. The ten tests Franks played in 2013 saw him achieve some personal and professional milestones, playing his 50th test for New Zealand on 14 September 2013 when the All Blacks defeated the Springboks 29–15 at Eden Park. Franks' 50th test was unfortunately overshadowed by the outstanding performance of All Black captain Kieran Read and the ill-discipline of both sides, with Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis being red-carded in the 41st minute for elbowing All Black flanker Liam Messam's face. Franks was replaced by Faumuina in the 64th minute of the test.
Franks and his older brother Ben both came off the bench in the second half of New Zealand's final test of 2013, on 24 November that year, with Wyatt Crockett and Charlie Faumuina preferred to start against Ireland for the test. New Zealand was losing 7–22 to Ireland at halftime but Franks lead the forward pack's charge for a comeback, producing one of the best performances of his career, assisting in allowing New Zealand to equalise the score after the 80th minute. Fly-half Aaron Cruden converted Ryan Crotty's 80th minute try, allowing New Zealand to win 24–22, with Franks and his teammates becoming part of the first international rugby team to win every test they played in a calendar year.