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Paul Franze

Paul Franze (born March 3, 1982 in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia) is an Australian rugby league player for the Newcastle Knights and used to play for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Penrith Panthers in the Australian National Rugby League and for the Castleford Tigers in the European Super League, as well as a rugby union player for the London Irish in the Guinness Premiership. His position of choice in both codes was usually playing at centre.

After making over fifty appearances in rugby league and seven in rugby union, Franze decided to take a break from both codes of the game at the beginning of the 2006 season and for the remaining foreseeable future, citing his reasons as heavy fatigue. On the 26th July 2006, Paul Franze agreed to terms with the Newcastle Knights. This was a significant signing for both the Knights and for Paul, as he will be returning to his hometown.

Biography

Childhood and early career

Franze began playing rugby league in his home city of Newcastle for his local club side Raymond Terrace while still at a young age. His talent was quickly spotted and he was signed by local NRL side the Newcastle Knights as a junior while still in his teens. His raw talent was also seen with his selection in junior Australian rugby league and rugby union sides. He went on to play in the lower grades, but was never able to make his way into first grade until he was signed by the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. After several years, Paul Franze has been re-signed by the Newcastle Knights and he is set to fill the holes left by the departure of Matthew Gidley, Anthony Quinn and Brian Carney. His father is from Calabria (Southern Italian) and his mother is Australian.

2002

Franze began in the lower grades at the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks rugby league club for the beinning of the 2002 season, though he quickly impressed his coach Chris Anderson and worked his way into the first grade side at Cronulla making his debut in round six against the Newcastle Knights at EnergyAustralia Stadium on April 19. Paul continued to hold down his first grade spot for the majority of the 2002 season, scoring eight tries including an impressive double in the finals series against local rivals the St George Illawarra Dragons.

2003-2004

The 2003 season was potentially shaping up to be an impressive one for Franze after a solid debut season in first grade at the Sharks. However, early on during the Sharks' new season campaign, he sustained a season-ending knee injury, requiring him to have a knee reconstruction, and a lengthy recovery process meant he could take no further part in the season.

After recovering from his serious knee injury during the vast majority of the 2003 season, Franze made his return to the Sharks' first grade side midway through the 2004 season. However, he was never able to regain his old form and spent the majority of his time in reserve grade before being released from the club at the end of the season.

2005

Paul was signed by the Penrith Panthers at the beginning of the 2005 season and was quickly placed into the Panthers first grade team by coach John Lang, making his debut in round one of the season in an eventual loss to his former club the Sharks. Franze's form continued to improve with every game as the season went on, eventually finishing with eleven tries from twenty-one appearances.

At the end of the 2005 season with Franze being off contract, many English rugby union teams took an interest in him and he eventually decided to sign with the London Irish..

2006

Franze made his debut for the London Irish rugby union club in the Guinness Premiership at the beginning of the 2006 season playing for the club at centre. He made the adjustment of switching codes quickly impressing fans and pundits alike with strong performances in several games including a superb try which many labelled the try of the season against Agen.

After making several appearances for his new club, Paul put in a request to his new club asking for his contract to be terminated so that he could return to rugby league. The request was granted by the London Irish rugby director Brian Smith.

After signing on to play rugby league again with the Castleford Tigers, Franze made his debut for the club in their round nine clash against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on April 14; He was named on the bench, eventually coming off to make his debut late in the match. Franze went on to make another two appearances for the struggling Tigers before dramatically deciding to opt out of the remaining time on his contract, citing fatigue as this was the beginning of "his third straight season of rugby" without an off-season.

After terminating his contract with the Castleford team, Franze decided "to take a break from the game" for the time being.

Paul Franze signed a two-year deal with the Newcastle Knights on the 26th July 2006. He is set to fill the gap left by 3 departing Novocastrians: Brian Carney, Matthew Gidley & Anthony Quinn. This is a significant change in Paul's career, as only 12 months ago he was playing for the Castleford Tigers. With his return to the Knights, Franze has now come full circle.