Owen Franks makes Crusaders return ahead of 2024 season

Crusaders have announced that former All Blacks prop Owen Franks will make a return back to the Super Rugby Pacific club ahead of the 2024 season.

Franks already played for Crusaders between 2009 and 2019 and has racked up 153 appearances for the club. He also is ranked fifth in the most appearances made for the club after behind Wyatt Crockett, Sam Whitelock, Kieran Read and Andy Ellis.

The 35-year-old has also made 108 Test appearances for the All Blacks between 2009 and 2019 and had represented Northampton Saints, Hurricanes and Toulouse in the past.

“It’s quite surreal, really,” Franks told.

“A couple of weeks ago I was in France and it was most likely that things were going to wrap up. I made the decision to come home and be around the family. When this opportunity came up it was a no-brainer.

“The France experience was great – I was playing some good rugby and Toulouse is an outstanding club. I had an opportunity to stay on, but the kids were itching to get back to school and the wife to work back here so we made the decision to come back.

“I’m really looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the other front rowers and competing with them. They’re all world class in my opinion, so it’ll be great to be a part of that unit,” he said.

Crusaders head coach Rob Penney is delighted with Franks returning back to the club.

“Owen has already made a significant contribution to this team, and we can’t wait for him to continue to do this throughout our 2024 campaign,” Penney said.