Franco van der Merwe
| 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) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Hartswater High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | North-West University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Position(s) | Lock | ||
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| Current team | Ulster | ||
| Youth Career | |||
| 2002–2004 | Leopards | ||
| Senior career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2004–2006 | Leopards | 58 | (40) |
| 2006–2014 | Golden Lions | 104 | (50) |
| 2007–2014 | Lions | 85 | (35) |
| 2013 | → Sharks | 16 | (0) |
| 2014–present | Ulster | 23 | (15) |
| 2017-future | Cardiff | () | |
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Correct as of 1 April 2015
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| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 2004 | South Africa Under-21 | 3 | (0) |
| 2009 | Emerging Springboks | 1 | (0) |
| 2013 | South Africa | 1 | (0) |
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Correct as of 24 April 2014
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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. He represents Irish side Ulster in the Pro12, having previously played for 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.
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.
He left the Lions to join Irish side Ulster prior to the 2014–15 Pro12 season. He signed a two-year deal starting on 1 August 2014.
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