Ulster Rugby vs Leinster

FAREWELL FRANCO

I’m sure it’s an emotional time saying farewell to a club that you have been a part of for a number of years now? Yes it is. I’ve been here for three years now and I’ve got a lot of good memories. From day one we have thoroughly enjoyed our time here and it will always be a special place for us. Off the field our first daughter was born here and we will never forget that. What would you say are your highlights? Off the field, definitely the fact that our daughter was born here and also the first time I ran out onto the pitch and heard the SUFTUM song, that was really unexpected. I didn’t know about the song until earlier that week up and singing SUFTUM, I got goosebumps all over, so that was a pretty good highlight. But also there is the players, the staff, the management, the supporters, everyone – people have been really supportive to us over the last three years, which has been great. and someone said I was in for a surprise. When I ran out and there was a full crowd and everyone was standing we were at our best and to go to France to Toulouse and beat them was a great feeling. First of all we played them here and won, that was really good - but then to do it again, to go away and beat them there was unbelievable. What will you miss the most? The people, the players especially, as we spend almost every single day together. Sometimes I spend more time with them than I do with my wife and my family. When we go to away games there is a lot of craic and every day in training we have a laugh so it’s really the friendships I have developed with the guys that I will miss the most.

You’ve really embraced life here in Belfast, I’m sure it will hold a special place in your heart? It’s only been three years but it feels like I’ve been a part of the club for much longer than that. I think it’s because it’s such a well-supported and well-structured organisation. If you take from the top management all the way down to the players, you know the way it’s run that it's a really good club to be a part of. We have world class facilities so to come here and be part of Ulster and to realise what the guys are playing for makes it special every single time you wear the white jersey. Have you got a favourite place here?

We have travelled a lot here in Ulster. We have been to the Causeway, up to Portrush and Dunluce Castle. Every time family or friends come over we take them up North so that is one of our favourite places to go to and some of our favourite restaurants are up there too. Is Ulster what you expected it to be?

When I signed, I didn’t even know where I was going to. There is a town in South Africa also called Belfast but it isn’t even close to what Belfast is like here. Everything is so green here but I didn’t expect anything. When I got here I was blown away by the friendly people, the amazing city, just everything about Belfast, I really have enjoyed every minute. What does the future hold for you? I’m not 100% sure what is going to happen after Cardiff but I am going to be playing there for the next while, after that I will have to see. I might have another year or two left in me, I might go back to South Africa and start a new career and maybe grow the family in the next couple of years. We are looking forward to the future but there is one more hurdle against Leinster this weekend that we need to get over so I’ll park the thought of Cardiff for another few weeks. Good Luck Franco!

FRANCO VAN DER MERWE What was your favourite game to play in? I would have to say the away game against Toulouse. That was probably one of the games

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