Gain insights into the personal and professional aspects of Frans Malherbe

Gain insights into the personal and professional aspects of Frans Malherbe

Kevin Omuya
February 22, 2024 at 9:07 AM

After returning from the 2023 World Cup in France, Frans Malherbe, one of four Stormers who helped the Springboks win, has stayed on the sidelines. Rugby union player Malherbe represents the South African national team and the United Rugby Championship's Stormers. From a scrum perspective, he is an essential cog for the Stormers and the Springboks.

South African rugby player, Frans Malherbe
Frans Malherbe during the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match (left). He poses for a portrait during the South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 Squad. Photo: Seb Daly, Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Source: Original

Table of Сontents:

Since 2018, Frans Malherbe has been a mainstay in South Africa's starting lineup. Frans Malherbe ranks high among the best South African rugby players ever. Over the last decade, he has steadily improved his game. Participating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup as a national representative was the pinnacle of his career.

Profile summary

Title

Details

Full name

Jozua Francois Malherbe

Gender

Male

Date of birth

March 14, 1991

Place of birth

Bredasdorp, South Africa

Age

32 years old as of 2024

Nationality

South African

Ethnicity

Afrikaner

Height

1.9m (6'3")

Weight

123 kg (271 lb; 19 st 5 lb)

Marital status

Married

Wife

Ingrid Malherbe

Children

3

Profession

Professional rugby player

Current team

Stormers

Social media

Instagram, X (Twitter)

How old is Frans Malherbe?

The professional Springbok rugby player Francois Malherbe (age 32 years as of February 2024) was born on 14 March 1991 in Bredasdorp. He attended Paarl Boys' High School in South Africa, where he captained the first team.

Frans Malherbe's biography
Top 5 facts about Frans Malherbe. Photo: Alex Livesey/Getty Images (modified by author)
Source: Original

How much does Frans Malherbe weigh?

The Springboks are known for their powerful forwards, but at a listed weight of 123 kg, tighthead prop Frans Malherbe is one of the heaviest. He stands at a height of 1.9m (6'3").

Frans Malherbe's career

Malherbe playing for stormers in 2015
Frans Malherbe of the Stormers during the Super Rugby Qualifying Final match against Brumbies at DHL Newlands Stadium on June 20, 2015, in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Ashley Vlotman
Source: Getty Images

Malherbe debuted his senior club in 2011 but did not establish a regular spot on either team until 2012. Starting in all but one of the Stormers' Super Rugby 2012 matches, he also appeared in all Western Province's Currie Cup Premier Division title games that year.

In addition, he replaced an injured member of the South African national team during their 2012 tour of Australia. In his first season, he led Province to a 25-18 triumph over the Sharks in Durban, and at the tender age of 21, he became the Currie Cup winner.

Even though the Lions signed the more seasoned Pat Cilliers, he continued to play a vital role as the Stormers' starting tight end in 2013, thanks to his rising star power. He played in eleven Super Rugby Sevens matches in 2013 before becoming hurt, which prevented him from playing in the rest of the season and the Currie Cup. In four substitute appearances during his late-season return, he helped Province reach their second consecutive Currie Cup final.

International career

Frans Malherbe's international debut
Matias Moroni and Juan Figallo of Argentina tackle Frans Malherbe of South Africa during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final in London, United Kingdom. Photo: Richard Heathcote
Source: Getty Images

Malherbe has been a part of multiple South African squads since Heyneke Meyer was named head coach in 2012, but he has yet to appear for his country. He did not make his test debut until November 9, 2013, in Cardiff, against Wales, due to an injury to Jannie du Plessis.

He performed admirably despite being up against the much more seasoned Gethin Jenkins in the scrum. He was still in the lineup for Scotland's match in Edinburgh the following week, but he had to withdraw from the game due to an injury just before halftime, cutting short his tour.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup roster for South Africa includes Malherbe. In his only appearance of the season, coming off the bench for the final Springbok pool match against Canada, he scored the team's first Test try. After that, South Africa beat England in the final to claim the title.

Frans Malherbe's injury

Injuries marred the early stages of Malherbe's Test career. He suffered a broken leg in 2014 but returned in time to play in six Rugby World Cup matches in 2015. He played three more international matches against Ireland before suffering a season-ending neck injury in 2016. Also sidelined by a neck injury in 2017, the front-rower did not participate in the Rugby Championship.

Frans Malherbe's awards

SA Rugby's Player of the Year, Frans Malherbe, is an unlikely but well-deserved winner, consistently performing well for both the DHL Stormers and the Springboks. The following is the breakdown of his achievements;

  • Western Province: 2012 Currie Cup winner
  • Stormers: 2022 United Rugby Championship winner
  • South Africa: 2019 Rugby Championship winner, 2019 Rugby World Cup winner, 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa winner, 2023 Qatar Airways Cup vs New Zealand at Twickenham winner and 2023 Rugby World Cup winner.
Frans Malherbe holding World Cup trophy
Frans Malherbe poses for a portrait with the Web Ellis Cup in Japan in November 2019 (left) and October 2023 in Paris, France. Photo: Dan Mullan, David Ramos/Getty Images
Source: UGC

Where is Frans Malherbe going?

From September 24, 2021, to June 25, 2022, the Stormers were represented by Frans Malherbe in the newly formed United Rugby Championship. The World Cup veteran and winner in Springbok has been injured for quite some time. Dawie Snyman, an assistant coach for the Stormers, confirmed that the 32-year-old Bok front-row forward is still out injured.

Who is Frans Malherbe's wife?

Malherbe with wife and children
Malherbe with his wife (left) and their children. Photo: @fmalherbs (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Ingrid Malherbe was born on 3 February 1994 in Swakopmund, Namibia. She attended Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool and then graduated from Stellenbosch University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.

Having previously served as creative account manager at the boutique consultancy firm Lark Haus, Frans Malherbe's wife is now employed as an Artist. She also has an internet boutique where you can buy pre-owned apparel and accessories.

When did Frans and Ingrid meet?

The couple first crossed paths in 2015, and Frans proposed to Ingrid in July of 2022. They married on 4 February 2023, and they have three children.

Final word

Frans Malherbe has excelled mainly as a tighthead prop throughout his professional rugby career. He is known for his Super Rugby and Currie Cup appearances with the Stormers and Western Province. Malherbe is a South African international who has played for the Springboks and earned caps.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.
Tags
South African Rugby Union (SARU)Rugby World Cup