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by | Dec 28, 2017 | Meadowlarks

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Brendon James Botha, better known as BJ Botha (born 4 January 1980) is a South African former rugby union player. He played as a prop. He is now a housemaster and rugby coach at Glenstal Abbey School.[1]

Professional career

Sharks

Botha played in the Currie Cup and Super 14 the Sharks. He played in all 13 Super 14 matches in 2006 and was one cap shy of a half-century in the domestic Currie Cup.

Ulster

He signed for Ulster on Thursday 14 August 2008 on a three-year deal, and left the province in May 2011.

Munster

Botha signed for the Irish province Munster on a two-year contract in February 2011, starting in the 2011–12 season.[2]

He made his Munster debut against Scarlets on 17 September 2011.[3] His first Heineken Cup game for Munster was against Northampton Saints in November 2011. He scored his first try for Munster in January 2012, in the Heineken Cup round 6 game against Northampton.[4]

Botha scored a match-winning try for Munster in their final Pro12 game against Zebre on 3 May 2013.[5] He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in May 2013.[6] Botha signed a six-month contract extension with Munster in March 2015, meaning he will stay with the province until at least December 2015.[7] He won his 100th cap for Munster in the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final on 30 May 2015.[8] In November 2015, it was announced that Botha's contract with Munster had been extended to June 2016.[9] Botha started Munster's opening pool game of the 2015–16 European Rugby Champions Cup against Treviso on 14 November 2015, scoring a try in his team's 32–7 win.[10] On 9 January 2016, Botha ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament during Munster's match against Stade Français. The injury ruled him out for the foreseeable future.[11] In May 2016, it was announced that Botha would leave Munster at the end of the 2015–16 season.[12]

Move to France

After leaving Munster, Botha joined French Top 14 club Lyon as a medical joker ahead of the 2016–17 season,[13] before joining Biarritz, who played in the Rugby Pro D2, France's second tier league, ahead of the 2017–18 season.[14] Botha retired from rugby at the end of the 2017–18 season.[15]

South Africa

Botha has played 25 times for the Springboks and has one try to his name. He was a member of the South Africa squad that won the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Barbarians

In May 2009, Botha was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia.[16][17]

References

  1. ^ https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/arid-41307055.html
  2. ^ "Botha Signs". munsterrugby.ie. 25 February 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  3. ^ "RaboDirect Pro12: Munster 35–12 Scarlets". BBC Sport. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  4. ^ "Munster Close The Deal". munsterrugby.ie. 21 January 2012. Archived from the original on 26 January 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Botha Try Seals Win". munsterrugby.ie. 5 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 September 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  6. ^ "Injury Forces Howlett To Retire". munsterrugby.ie. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Front Row Trio Sign Up". munsterrugby.ie. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 21 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Munster Well Beaten As Warriors Claim Title". munsterrugby.ie. 31 May 2015. Archived from the original on 1 June 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Side Named For European Opener". munsterrugby.ie. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  10. ^ "Job Done in Thomond". munsterrugby.ie. 14 November 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
  11. ^ "Botha Injury Update". munsterrugby.ie. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Departing Players". munsterrugby.ie. 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  13. ^ "BJ Botha signs with Lyon as a medical joker". Ultimate Rugby. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  14. ^ "Biarritz Olympique: BJ Botha, the pillar of the fray". Sud Ouest (in French). 5 January 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2019.
  15. ^ "What happened to former Springboks and Sharks prop BJ Botha?". SA Rugby Magazine. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  16. ^ "England v Barbarians: Teams". skysports.com. 29 May 2009. Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  17. ^ "Australia v Bass-Baas: Teams". skysports.com. 5 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
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