Franks Strength: Part 2

Ben and Owen Franks are professional rugby players for the New Zealand All Blacks, winners of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

In Part 2, the brothers are training on the beach, and it looks a little like the harsh tests of SEALFIT’s Kokoro Camp. With two competitive, powerful beasts going head-to-head at the highest level of their nation’s sport, you can expect the occasional punch-up, but father Ken Franks says his sons are always friends after the whistle.

After shaking the beach with vicious tackles, the brothers talk about the earthquake that hit their hometown in February 2011 and damaged or destroyed much of the city, including the rugby stadium. Despite never having a home game, the Christchurch Crusaders finished near the top of their league.

If the early part of 2011 was hard, the Franks brothers were rewarded for their perseverance at the Rugby World Cup, where the New Zealand All Blacks had the once-in-a-liftetime chance to claim gold on home soil. They did so on Oct. 23, 2011, in Auckland, beating France by a single point. It was the nation’s first championship in 24 years.

In addition to their sports-specific training, both brothers are dedicated CrossFitters and run their own affiliate: Reebok CrossFit Canterbury. They believe CrossFit helps them on the pitch.

“I use CrossFit as the icing on my cake,” Ben says. “It’s the thing I use to give me that edge. ... We use CrossFit as our edge.”

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18min 27sec

Additional video: All Black in Bonsall by Mike Burgener, published March 16, 2010.