Frans Malherbe

Jozua Francois Malherbe (born 14 March 1991) is a South African professional rugby union player. He plays as a tighthead prop for the  in the United Rugby Championship and South Africa national team.

Early life
Malherbe attended Paarl Boys' High School, where he also captained the First Rugby team to victory in Interschools in his Matric year.

Career
Malherbe made both his senior Western Province and Stormers debuts in 2011, however it was the following year when he fully cemented his place in both sides. He played in every Stormers match during the 2012 Super Rugby season and only missed one match in Western Province's successful 2012 Currie Cup Premier Division campaign when he provided injury cover for squad on their tour of Australasia. He was a starter as Province upset the 25–18 in Durban to become a Currie Cup winner at the age of 21.

2013 saw his reputation grow and he retained his position as the Stormers first-choice tighthead ahead of the more experienced Pat Cilliers who had joined the franchise from the. He made 11 appearances during the 2013 Super Rugby season before an injury ended his campaign and forced him to miss the majority of the 2013 Currie Cup season. He made his comeback towards the back end of the campaign making 4 appearances from the bench and helping Province reach their second successive Currie Cup final.

International
Malherbe had been involved in several squads since the appointment of Heyneke Meyer as head coach in 2012 without making any appearances. An injury to Jannie du Plessis meant he finally made his test debut on 9 November 2013 against in Cardiff. He acquitted himself well despite facing the hugely experienced Gethin Jenkins on the other side of the scrum. He retained his place for the following week's match against in Edinburgh, however an injury just before half time saw him withdrawn and his tour ended prematurely.

Malherbe was named in South Africa's squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He also scored his first Test try in his career at his appearance off the bench on the final Springbok pool match against Canada. South Africa went on to win the tournament, defeating England in the final.

Honours
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
 * 2023 Rugby World Cup winner

Test Match Record
Pld = Games Played, W = Games Won, D = Games Drawn, L = Games Lost, Tri = Tries Scored, Pts = Points Scored