Franco Mostert

{{short description|South Africa international rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Use South African English|date=October 2019}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Franco Mostert

| image =

| fullname = Franco John Mostert

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|11|27|df=y}}

| birth_place = Welkom, South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.98}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/teams/south-africa/player/58426|title=Franco Mostert player profile|publisher=rugbyworldcup.com|access-date=22 October 2023}}

| weight = {{convert|112|kg|stlb lb|abbr=on}}

| occupation =

| school = Brits High School

| university = University of Pretoria

| relatives = JP Mostert

| position = Lock / Flanker

| currentclub = Honda Heat

| youthyears1 = 2010–2011

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2012

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps1 = 11

| points1 = 10

| years2 = 2013

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Golden Lions XV}}

| apps2 = 3

| points2 = 0

| years3 = 2014–2018

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Lions}}

| apps3 = 83

| points3 = 20

| years4 = 2014–2015

| clubs4 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}}

| apps4 = 25

| points4 = 30

| years5 = 2016–2018

| clubs5 = Ricoh Black Rams

| apps5 = 16

| points5 = 10

| years6 = 2018–2020

| clubs6 = {{Rut|Gloucester}}

| apps6 = 28

| points6 = 0

| years7 = 2020–present

| clubs7 = Honda Heat

| apps7 = 18

| points7 = 15

| amatyears1 = 2010–2012

| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}}

| amatapps1 = 17

| amatpoints1 = 20

| repyears1 = 2016–present

| repteam1 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps1 = 72

| reppoints1 = 15

| clubupdate = 9 August 2022

| repupdate = 22 October 2023

| medals = {{MedalSport|Men's Rugby union}}

{{MedalCountry|{{ru|RSA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Rugby World Cup}}

{{MedalGold|2019 Japan|Squad}}

{{MedalGold|2023 France|Squad}}

}}

Franco John Mostert (born 27 November 1990) is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for Honda Heat and the South Africa national team.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=50372 | name=Franco Mostert | date=30 May 2016}}{{efn | French Top 14 side {{Rut|Lyon}} also announced that they signed Mostert from 1 November 2016 onwards (or after the November internationals if he is involved). However, the Ricoh Black Rams then announced that they signed Mostert on a two-year contract, and South African media reported that he will return for the Lions in 2017. In October 2016, with Mostert joining Ricoh Black Rams, Lyon threatened to take legal action against Mostert.{{cite press release | url=http://www.lourugby.fr/actualites/communique-officiel-franco-mostert/23661 | title=Communique Officiel : Franco Mostert | publisher=Lyon OU | date=17 October 2016 | access-date=18 October 2016 | language=fr}}}} His usual position is lock. He was one of the members of the winning Springboks in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan as well as the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

He joined the {{Rut|Golden Lions}} for the 2013 season,{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/Sport/Rugby/Nog-n-Blou-Bul-is-op-pad-Goudstad-toe-20121002 | title=Nóg 'n Blou Bul is op pad Goudstad toe | date=2 Oct 2012 | publisher=Beeld | access-date=2 Oct 2012 | language=af}} but was seriously injured in a car crash shortly after joining, which ruled him out until at least the end of 2013.{{cite web | url=http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More=%20-%2027%20April%202013&FeatureID=20701&SectionID=33 | title=Leeuslot ernstig beseer | work=SupaRugby | date=28 April 2013 | access-date=29 April 2013}} He fully recovered and was included in the {{Rut|Lions}} squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season{{cite press release|url=http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/lionsnews.aspx?item=4128&multiid=1010&archive=0 |title=2014 Lions Super Rugby squad |publisher=Lions |date=11 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222152732/http://www.lionsrugby.co.za/lionsnews.aspx?item=4128&multiid=1010&archive=0 |archive-date=22 February 2014 }} and made his debut in a 21–20 victory over the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} in Bloemfontein.{{cite web | url=http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/match-centre/?season=2014&competition=205&match=514011 | title=Match Centre: Cheetahs v Lions | publisher=SANZAR | date=15 February 2014 | access-date=15 February 2014}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=113674 | homeid=16144 | awayid=16154 | leagueid=1574 | hometeam=Toyota Cheetahs | homescore=20 | awayscore=21 | awayteam=Lions | matchdate=15 February 2014 | date=5 July 2016}}

He also played for {{Rut|UP Tuks}} in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Varsity Cup competitions.

He joined {{Rut|Gloucester}} prior to the 2018–19 English Premiership.{{cite press release | url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/2018/05/30/springbok-lock-franco-mostert-joins-gloucester-rugby | title=Springbok lock Franco Mostert joins Gloucester Rugby | publisher=Gloucester Rugby | date=30 May 2018 | access-date=30 May 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530104959/https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/2018/05/30/springbok-lock-franco-mostert-joins-gloucester-rugby | archive-date=30 May 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}}

Mostert was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/rugby-world-cup-2019-south-africa-squad-full-list-schedule-latest-players-confirmed-a9079626.html |title=South Africa World Cup squad: Siya Kolisi wins fitness battle, Eben Etzebeth backed, Aphiwe Dyantyi dropped |date=26 August 2019 |publisher=Independent |access-date=3 November 2019}} South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50273291 |title=England 12-32 South Africa: Springboks win World Cup for record-equalling third time |date=2 November 2019 |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 November 2019}}

It was confirmed he had left Gloucester in June 2020 in order to pursue a career in Japan.{{Cite web|date=2020-06-26|title=Gloucester Rugby confirm departing players|url=https://www.gloucesterrugby.co.uk/2020/06/26/gloucester-rugby-confirm-departing-players/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Gloucester Rugby|language=en-US}} It was later confirmed that Mostert returned to Japan Top League competition to sign for Honda Heat for their next season.{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/honda-heat-bag-4-players-including-bok-and-a-blue/|publisher=Rugby Pass|title=Honda Heat bag 4 players, including Bok and a Blue|date=31 July 2020|access-date=28 September 2020}}