Romano Franco is a hugely promising left-arm spinner who has progressed through the Glamorgan Pathway and Academy system, prior to playing for Glamorgan 2nd XI and Wales National Counties from 2024.
Born in Liverpool and educated firstly at Elfed High School in Buckley, Romano was initially a wicket-keeper in age-group cricket with Buckley CC and Hawarden Park CCwith Jos Buttler as his cricketing idol.
But in 2022 Romano switched to bowling left-arm spin after Glamorgan coaches Mike Clayden and Darren Thomas had seen him bowl in the nets at an Under-16 Welsh Trial at Sophia Gardens. It proved to be an extremely successful switch, so much so that Romano – who has a bowling action very similar to that of former Middlesex and England left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell – won the Sir Jack Hobbs Silver Jubilee Memorial Prize as presented by The Cricket Society, for being the Most Outstanding U16 Schoolboy Cricketer in England and Wales in 2023. After securing a place at King’s School, Chester for his A-levels, he continued his development apace and in addition to playing for Northop CC, he continued played for Wales age-group teams, prior to making his debut for both Glamorgan 2nd XI and Wales National Counties during 2004.
He made his 1st XI debut for Glamorgan in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup against Hampshire at The Gnoll in August 2025, and at 18 years and 142 days, he joined a list that includes the likes of Dan Cherry, Dean Cosker, Andrew Davies, Steve James, Maurice Turnbull, Kiran Carlson and Tom Maynard in making his debut for the Welsh county at the age of eighteen.
Romano’s 1st XI debut came a few weeks before receiving his A-Level results in Biology, Mathematics and Chemistry, with a place at Cardiff Metropolitan University in his sights. At the end of the season, Romano also won the Glamorgan Academy Player of the Year Award.
FRANCO, Romano Carmelo Molica
b. Liverpool, 16 March 2007.
Best performances for Glamorgan:
In List A cricket – 1* v Hampshire at Neath, 2025 and v Nottinghamshire at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff; 3/59 v Leicestershire at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 2025.
Batting and Fielding Record (as at 14/10/25)
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| List A | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
Bowling Record (as at 14/10/25)
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| List A | 286 | 0 | 296 | 5 | 59.20 | – | – |