{{short description|South African rugby union footballer|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{EngvarB|date=August 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Burton Francis | image = | fullname = Burton Kenvin Francis | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|01|02|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Paarl]], South Africa | height = {{height|m=1.84}} | weight = {{cvt|85|kg|lb stlb}} | nickname = | occupation = | school = Klein Nederburg Secondary | university = | relatives = | position = [[Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half|Fly-half]] | currentclub = [[SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne|Agen]] | youthyears1 = 2004 | youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} | youthyears2 = 2005 | youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Leopards}} | youthyears3 = 2006–2007 | youthclubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | years1 = 2008–2009 | clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} | apps1 = 27 | points1 = 209 | years2 = 2008–2009 | clubs2 = {{Rut|Bulls}} | apps2 = 9 | points2 = 14 | years3 = 2010–2011 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Lions}} | apps3 = 12 | points3 = 52 | years4 = 2010–2011 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Golden Lions}} | apps4 = 15 | points4 = 119 | years5 = 2012 | clubs5 = {{Rut|Stormers}} | apps5 = 6 | points5 = 0 | years6 = 2012 | clubs6 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps6 = 1 | points6 = 0 | years7 = 2012 | clubs7 = → {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} | apps7 = 4 | points7 = 11 | years8 = 2013 | clubs8 = {{Rut|Griquas}} | apps8 = 0 | points8 = 0 | years9 = 2013 | clubs9 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | apps9 = 6 | points9 = 62 | years10 = 2013–17 | clubs10 = [[SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne|Agen]] | apps10 = 110 | points10 = 1,057 | repyears1 = 2005 | repteam1 = S.A. Schools B | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | clubupdate = 25 February 2017 | repupdate = }}
'''Burton Francis''' (born 2 January 1987) is a South African former professional [[rugby union]] player who played as a [[fly-half]].
==Career==
===Youth=== At youth level, he represented {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} at the 2004 Under-18 Academy Week. He moved to the {{Rut|Leopards}} in 2005 and played for them in the 2005 Under-18 [[Craven Week]] tournament, which also led to his inclusion in the S.A. Schools B team. He also represented the Leopards in the Under-19 Provincial Championship tournament.
In 2006, he joined the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} and played for them at Under-19 and Under-21 level.
===Blue Bulls / Bulls=== He made his first class debut for the Blue Bulls in the [[2008 Vodacom Cup]] match against the {{Rut|Mighty Elephants}}.<ref name="BA Mighty Elephants 33-35 Vodacom Blue Bulls">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=15194 | homeid=6605 | awayid=6596 | leagueid=618 | hometeam=BA Mighty Elephants | homescore=33 | awayscore=35 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=8 March 2008 | date=1 July 2016}}</ref> Only two months later, he made his [[Super Rugby]] debut for the {{Rut|Bulls}} in their match against the {{Rut|Brumbies}}.<ref name="Vodacom Bulls 28-17 Brumbies">{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=15128 | homeid=6571 | awayid=6561 | leagueid=617 | hometeam=Vodacom Bulls | homescore=28 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Brumbies | matchdate=9 May 2008 | date=1 July 2016}}</ref> He made several appearances for them in the [[Vodacom Cup]] and [[Currie Cup]] competitions in 2008 and 2009.
He was part of the Blue Bulls team who won the 2008 Vodacom Cup title against the Lions.
===Golden Lions / Lions=== In 2010, he moved across the [[Jukskei River]] to join the {{Rut|Golden Lions}}, representing them in both domestic competitions over the next two seasons, as well as making twelve appearances for the {{Rut|Lions}} in Super Rugby.
===Western Province / Stormers=== He joined {{Rut|Western Province}} in 2012 and was named 14 times in Super Rugby squads for the {{Rut|Stormers}}, but only made six appearances. He also only made one solitary appearance for {{Rut|Western Province}} in the [[2012 Currie Cup Premier Division]].
===SWD Eagles=== He joined the {{Rut|SWD Eagles}} on loan for the [[2012 Currie Cup First Division]] season<ref name="Injuries blow for WP">{{cite web | url=http://www.witness.co.za/index.php?showcontent&global%5B_id%5D=88509 | title=Injuries blow for WP | date=29 September 2012 | work=The Witness | access-date=2 October 2012 }}</ref> and was also named in the {{Rut|Southern Kings}} squad for the [[2013 Super Rugby season]], but was released after failing a medical test following a shoulder injury<ref name="SWD se Burton Francis 'gepos' uit franchise">{{cite web|url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2013/01/03/KS/23/spt-ranki-222.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219104443/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2013/01/03/KS/23/spt-ranki-222.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2013 |title=SWD se Burton Francis 'gepos' uit franchise |publisher=Media24 |work=Die Son |date=3 January 2013 |access-date=4 January 2013 |author=Norman Silke |language=af }}</ref>
===Griquas / Cheetahs=== His journey of South African teams continued when he joined {{Rut|Griquas}} for the [[2013 Vodacom Cup]] season.<ref name="Burton Francis: Kings se verlies is Griekwas se wins">{{cite web | url=http://www.beeld.com/Sport/Rugby/Burton-Francis-Kings-se-verlies-is-Griekwas-se-wins-20130109 | title=Burton Francis: Kings se verlies is Griekwas se wins | publisher=Media24 | work=Beeld | date=9 January 2013 | access-date=9 January 2013 | author=Karstens, Gerdie | language=af}}</ref> Following an injury to [[Elgar Watts]], he was included in the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}' Super Rugby squad.<ref name="Francis to join Cheetahs in NZ">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Francis-to-join-Cheetahs-in-NZ-20130226 | title=Francis to join Cheetahs in NZ | publisher=Sport24 | work=Sport24 | date=27 February 2013 | access-date=27 February 2013}}</ref> and never actually made a competitive appearance for Griquas.
===Agen=== In 2013, he joined French [[Pro D2]] side Agen.<ref name="Burton Francis off to France">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Burton-Francis-off-to-France-20130531 | title=Burton Francis off to France | work=Sport24 | date=31 May 2013 | access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=35171 | name=Burton Francis | date=30 May 2016}} *[http://www.thestormers.co.za/profiles.asp?id=1391 Stormers profile]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *{{ItsRugby profile|8063}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Burton}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:South African rugby union players]] [[Category:Stormers players]] [[Category:Rugby union fly-halves]] [[Category:Bulls (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Lions (United Rugby Championship) players]] [[Category:Rugby union players from Paarl]] [[Category:Eastern Province Elephants players]] [[Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players]] [[Category:SWD Eagles players]] [[Category:21st-century South African sportsmen]]