Johnathan Francke
{{short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Johnathan Francke
| image =
| fullname = Johnathan Charles Francke
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|05|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Strand, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.80}}
| weight = {{convert|92|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Strand Secondary
| university = Boland College
| relatives =
| position = Centre
| currentclub = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| youthyears1 = 2007
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Western Province}}
| years1 = 2011–2013
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| apps1 = 55
| points1 = 80
| years2 = 2013–present
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| apps2 = 99
| points2 = 75
| amatyears1 = 2008–2010
| amatteam1 = {{Rut|Maties}}
| amatapps1 = 8
| amatpoints1 = 10
| repyears1 = 2007
| repteam1 = South Africa Students
| repcaps1 = 0
| reppoints1 = 0
| clubupdate = 10 July 2022
| repupdate = 8 October 2013
}}
Johnathan Charles Francke (born 17 May 1986) is a South African rugby union player for {{Rut|Griquas}} in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=44426 | name=Johnathan Francke | date=29 May 2016}} His regular position is outside centre.
Career
=Youth and Varsity rugby=
In 2007, Francke played for the {{Rut|Western Province U19}} team. He was then included in the {{Rut|Maties}} Varsity Cup squads in 2008 (without making an appearance), 2009 (where he made one start in their match against the {{Rut|TUT Vikings}}){{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=17093 | homeid=7382 | awayid=7380 | leagueid=717 | hometeam=TUT | homescore=17 | awayscore=24 | awayteam=Maties | matchdate=2 March 2009 | date=27 July 2016}} and 2010, when he established himself as a first team player, making seven appearances and scoring two tries.
=Boland Cavaliers=
Francke then joined Wellington-based side {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}. His first class debut came during their 2011 Vodacom Cup match against {{Rut|Griquas}} in Bredasdorp, also scoring a try a mere seven minutes after coming on.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=19911 | homeid=8463 | awayid=8467 | leagueid=802 | hometeam=Boland Cavaliers | homescore=25 | awayscore=42 | awayteam=GWK Griquas | matchdate=26 February 2011 | date=27 July 2016}} Four more tries followed in six appearances for the remainder of that competition. He was also involved in their Currie Cup squad straight away, playing in a compulsory friendly match against {{Rut|Western Province}} prior to the 2011 Currie Cup First Division (again marking his debut at this level with a try){{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20695 | homeid=8791 | awayid=8792 | leagueid=825 | hometeam=Boland Cavaliers | homescore=22 | awayscore=15 | awayteam=DHL Western Province | matchdate=23 June 2011 | date=27 July 2016}} and made his debut in the competition proper a few weeks later in a 69–12 victory against the {{Rut|Border Bulldogs}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=20198 | homeid=8554 | awayid=8553 | leagueid=810 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=69 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Border Bulldogs | matchdate=16 July 2011 | date=27 July 2016}}
Francke remained a regular for the team – mostly as a substitute – that season, helping the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} to the First Division title, beating the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} 43–12 in the final.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=102581 | homeid=8554 | awayid=8549 | leagueid=810 | hometeam=Regent Boland Cavaliers | homescore=43 | awayscore=12 | awayteam=Eastern Province Kings | matchdate=14 October 2011 | date=27 July 2016}} He made several more appearances for them in both the Vodacom Cup and Currie Cup competitions in 2012 and 2013, amassing over fifty appearances for the team.
=Griquas=
Francke signed a deal with Kimberley-based outfit {{Rut|Griquas}} for 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/sport/2013-08-15-stut-skok-vir-gw-cheetahs | title=Stut-skok vir GW, Cheetahs | publisher=Beeld | work=Media24 | date=15 August 2013 | access-date=16 August 2013 | language=Afrikaans | archive-date=19 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019103942/http://www.beeld.com/sport/2013-08-15-stut-skok-vir-gw-cheetahs | url-status=dead }} With the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}' season already finished, he actually joined Griquas on loan for the final match of their 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division regular season, being named in their starting line-up for their match against the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/article/56585-griquas-keep-their-powder-dry | title=Griquas keep their powder dry | publisher=Rugby365 | date=8 October 2013 | access-date=8 October 2013}}
In July 2014, Francke extended his contract until the end of 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.volksblad.com/sport/2014-07-25-griekwas-behou-4-sterre | title=Griekwas behou 4 sterre | publisher=Volksblad | date=25 July 2014 | access-date=25 July 2014 | language=Afrikaans}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francke, Johnathan}}
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:People from Strand, Western Cape
Category:Boland Cavaliers players
Category:Griquas (rugby union) players
Category:Falcons (rugby union) players