Franco Van Der Merwe rugby player
Franco Van Der Merwe rugby player

Franco van der Merwe

15th Mar 1983 1.98m/115kg No 5 Lock

Where are they now? The 2009 Emerging Springboks that drew with the Lions

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

12 years ago today, the British and Irish Lions were dealt a blow in their preparations for the Test Series against the Springboks as they failed to put an Emerging Springbok side away drawing 13...

Where are they now? The 2009 Emerging Springboks that drew with the Lions

2 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

  In 2009, the British and Irish Lions were dealt a blow in their preparations for the test Series against the Springboks as they failed to put an Emerging Springbok side away drawing 13 all in Cape...

The Premiership's Top Defenders

3 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The halt on the Gallagher Premiership is almost at an end and as fans across the globe lick their lips at the prospect of England’s finest returning to the pitch.   Having already looked at...

Premiership Rugby Ins and Outs

3 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

When the Premiership returns on the 14th of August, it will be 159 days after the last match was staged with Bristol Bears defeating Harlequins to mark their fifth Premiership win in a row, their...

Biggest moves and transfer rumours of the week

3 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

Another busy week in the player market this week with the major announcement of Beauden Barrett's move to Japan next year.   We recap some of the biggest moves of the week as well as some of...

Picking a form South African XV from the Premiership

3 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

The Premiership is home to 40 South African born players with 10 of those 40 on Sale Sharks' payroll.   The South Africans are some of the best players in the league, we take a look at form...

Weekend Round Up

4 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

Irish strike late to thwart Saints' summit bid     Dave Porecki's last-gasp try prevented 14-man Northampton Saints from going top of the Premiership as London Irish secured a thrilling...

Irish strike late to thwart Saints' summit bid

4 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

Dave Porecki's last-gasp try prevented 14-man Northampton Saints from going top of the Premiership as London Irish secured a thrilling 20-16 win at Franklin's Gardens.     The visitors were...

Irish strike late to thwart Saints' summit bid

4 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

Dave Porecki's last-gasp try prevented 14-man Northampton Saints from going top of the Premiership as London Irish secured a thrilling 20-16 win at Franklin's Gardens.   The visitors were 16-8 down...

Ten years on, where are the 2009 Emerging Springboks now?

4 years ago by Ultimate Rugby

On the 23rd of June 2009, the Emerging Springboks piled the pressure on the British and Irish Lions, after the tourist lost the opening test to the Springboks, as they picked up 13 all draw.     We...