Franco Molina

{{Short description|English rugby union player}} {{Expand French|topic=bio|date=December 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Franco Molina | image = Franco Molina 2024.jpg | caption = Molina in 2024 | birth_name = Franco Molina | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|08|28|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Córdoba, Argentina|Cordoba]], [[Córdoba Province, Argentina|Córdoba Province]], Argentina | height = {{convert|1.96|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|120|kg|lb stlb|abbr=on}} | position = [[Lock (rugby union)|Lock]] | ru_currentclub = {{Rut|Force}}

| amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = [[Jockey Club Córdoba]] | ru_amupdate =

| years4 = 2023–2024 | clubs4 = [[Dogos XV]] | apps4 = 23 | points4 = 0

| years5 = 2024–2025 | clubs5 = [[Exeter Chiefs]] | apps5 = 17 | points5 = 0

| years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = {{Rut|Force}} | apps6 = 13 | points6 = 20 | ru_clubupdate = 30 May 2026

| repyears3 = 2024– | repteam3 = [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina]] | repcaps3 = 19 | reppoints3 = 5 | ru_ntupdate = 27 November 2024 }} '''Franco Molina''' (born 28 August 1997) is an Argentinian [[rugby union]] player who plays for the [[Western Force]] in the [[Super Rugby]] and the [[Argentina national rugby union team|Argentina national team]].

==Career== Molina made his mark on the Argentina U20 side during the 2016 & 2017 U20 World Rugby Championship.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.world.rugby/news/171960/england-claim-u20-championship-2016-honours |publisher=World Rugby |title=England claim U20 Championship 2016 honours |date=25 June 2016|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/09/21/tough-draw-argentina-2017-junior-world-championship/ |publisher=Americas Rugby News |title=Tough Draw for Argentina in 2017 Junior World Championship |date=21 September 2016|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

His performances with the side led to a call-up to the [[Argentina XV national rugby union team|Argentina XV]] side that competed in the [[Americas Rugby Championship]] between 2016 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/03/01/argentina-xv-roster-named-for-brazil/ |publisher=Americas Rugby News |title=Argentina XV Roster Named for Brazil |date=1 March 2016|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://djcoilrugby.com/2018/01/26/arc2018/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420173028/https://djcoilrugby.com/2018/01/26/arc2018/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 April 2019 |publisher=DJ Coil Rugby |title=Americas Rugby Championship 2018 Schedule & Squads|date=26 January 2018|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> In 2018, he was named in the Argentina senior squad for the [[2018 Rugby Championship]] but never made his test debut.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/the-rugby-championship/argentina-rugby-championship-squad-93292|publisher=Rugby World|title=Argentina Rugby Championship Squad 2018|date=4 October 2018|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

Molina played for his hometown club [[Dogos XV|Ceibos]] and [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)#Jaguares XV|Jaguares XV]] before moving to Chile to play for [[Selknam (rugby union)|Selknam]] in the [[Super Rugby Americas]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-01 |title=SLAR: el XV ideal, con mayoría de jugadores de Jaguares XV |url=https://www.espn.com.ar/rugby/nota/_/id/10304624/slar-el-xv-ideal-con-mayoria-de-jugadores-de-jaguares-xv-fecha-2-segunda-ronda |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=ESPN.com.ar |language=es}}</ref> He played for another Argentina side, [[Dogos XV]], in the same competition, where he made 23 appearances for as captain of the side.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/12/20/franco-molina-to-play-super-rugby-americas-for-dogos-xv/ |publisher=Americas Rugby News |title=Franco Molina to play Super Rugby Americas for Dogos XV |date=20 December 2022|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

Molina manage to make his test debut for Argentina in a 28–13 loss against [[France national rugby union team|France]] in [[Mendoza, Argentina|Mendoza]] during the [[2024 mid-year rugby union tests|2024 Summer Test series]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/youthful-france-punish-listless-argentina-in-mendoza/ |publisher=Rugby Pass |title=Youthful France punish listless Argentina in Mendoza |date=6 July 2024|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> Since then, he has featured for the Pumas in the [[2024 Rugby Championship]], including in the historic victory over [[New Zealand national rugby union team|New Zealand]] in August.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/new-zealand-vs-argentina/108224|publisher=Sky Sports|title=The Rugby Championship: Argentina beat defending champions New Zealand 38-30 in Wellington|date=10 August 2024|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

On 3 October 2024, Molinas moved to England to join [[Exeter Chiefs]] in the [[Premiership Rugby|Gallagher Premiership]] from the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cly6k1p102po|publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |title=Franco Molina: Exeter Chiefs sign Argentina second row |date=3 October 2024|access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref>

In July 2025, the [[Perth]]-based [[Western Force]] team of the [[Super Rugby]] announced [[List of 2025–26 Super Rugby transfers#Force|they had signed]] Molina ahead of the [[2026 Super Rugby Pacific season|2026 season]] on a two-year deal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Newcombe |first1=Jon |title=Lion taming lock Franco Molina swaps Gallagher PREM for Super Rugby |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/lion-taming-lock-franco-molina-swaps-gallagher-prem-for-super-rugby/ |website=Rugby Pass |access-date=25 July 2025 |date=25 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Force secure 'powerful' Argentina international lock Molina |url=https://westernforce.rugby/news/force-secure-argentina-international-lock-molina-2025725 |last=Somerford |first=Ben |date=25 July 2025 |website=westernforce.rugby }}</ref> In his first appearance for the team, Molina scored a try, which came in the [[List of 2026 Super Rugby Pacific matches#Round 1|first round]] against one of the teams rivals, the [[ACT Brumbies]]. The Force lost [[List of 2026 Super Rugby Pacific matches#Force v Brumbies|24–56]] at [[Perth Rectangular Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Force downed by ruthless Brumbies in season opener |url=https://westernforce.rugby/news/western-force-cron-match-report-2026214 |work=[[Western Force]] |date=15 February 2026 }}</ref>

== Honours == === Club === * {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Jaguares (Super Rugby)#Jaguares XV|Jaguares XV]] ** Winners of the [[Currie Cup]] in [[2019 Currie Cup First Division|2019]] ** Winners of the [[Super Rugby Americas]] in [[2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season|2021]] * {{flagicon|CHI}} [[Selknam (rugby union)|Selknam]] ** Finalists of the [[Super Rugby Americas]] in [[2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season|2022]] * {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Dogos XV]] ** Finalists of the [[Super Rugby Americas]] in [[2023 Super Rugby Americas season|2023]] ** Winners of the [[Super Rugby Americas]] in [[2024 Super Rugby Americas season|2024]]

=== International === * {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Argentina XV national rugby union team|Argentina XV]] ** Winners of the [[World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge]] in 2017 ** Winners of the [[Americas Rugby Championship]] in [[2019 Americas Rugby Championship|2019]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.exeterchiefs.co.uk/players/franco-molina Exeter Chiefs Profile] *[https://www.itsrugby.co.uk/joueurs/franco-molina-36952.html Its Rugby Profile] *[https://www.ultimaterugby.com/franco-molina Ultimate Rugby Profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Molina, Franco}} [[Category:1997 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Exeter Chiefs players]] [[Category:Rugby union locks]] [[Category:Argentine rugby union players]] [[Category:Argentina international rugby union players]] [[Category:Jaguares (Super Rugby) players]] [[Category:Dogos XV players]] [[Category:Selknam (rugby union) players]] [[Category:Western Force players]]