Former New Zealand u20 player and Māori All Black Tom Franklin played in Major League Rugby during the 2021 and 2023 seasons. He represented the San Diego Legion.

Franklin is an experienced lock, having competed in 6 Super Rugby seasons with the Highlanders, and initially joined the Legion late in the 2021 season from the Kobelco Steelers in Japan, earning 5 starts. Following the MLR season he returned to the Steelers for 2022, but in December of that year the Legion announced that they had re-signed Franklin for the 2023 season.

Franklin became part of a very experienced Legion second row in 2023, playing alongside Ben Grant and former All Black Isaac Ross. He earned 8 caps and 6 starts with the Legion during their record breaking 2023 season, finishing the regular season with a 15-1 record, the best regular season in MLR history. Despite their regular season success, the Legion finished as Runners-Up in 2023 following a 24-25 defeat to the New England Free Jacks in the Championship Final.

On August 23rd 2023, the Taranaki Bulls in New Zealand’s NPC competition announced the signing of Franklin, who is no stranger to the NPC having represented both Otago and Bay of Plenty in his career. It is unknown if Franklin will return to MLR.

Achievements:

• 2023 MLR Runner-Up – San Diego Legion