BJ Botha

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.

BJ Botha
Birth nameBrendon James Botha
Date of birth (1980-01-04) 4 January 1980
Place of birthDurban, South Africa
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Weight112 kg (17.6 st; 247 lb)
SchoolDurban High School, Durban
Kloof High School, Durban
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2008–2011
2011–2016
2016–2017
2017–2018		 Ulster
Munster
Lyon
Biarritz		 58
111
17
15		 (10)
(20)
(0)
(5)
Correct as of 11 January 2018
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–2008 Sharks 32 (10)
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–2010 South Africa 25 5
Correct as of 30 June 2011

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.[1]

He made his Munster debut against Scarlets on 17 September 2011.[2] 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.[3]

Botha scored a match-winning try for Munster in their final Pro12 game against Zebre on 3 May 2013.[4] He signed a two-year contract extension with Munster in May 2013.[5] Botha signed a six-month contract extension with Munster in March 2015, meaning he will stay with the province until at least December 2015.[6] He won his 100th cap for Munster in the 2015 Pro12 Grand Final on 30 May 2015.[7] In November 2015, it was announced that Botha's contract with Munster had been extended to June 2016.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] In May 2016, it was announced that Botha would leave Munster at the end of the 2015–16 season.[11]

Move to France

After leaving Munster, Botha joined French Top 14 club Lyon as a medical joker ahead of the 2016–17 season,[12] before joining Biarritz, who played in the Rugby Pro D2, France's second tier league, ahead of the 2017–18 season.[13] Botha retired from rugby at the end of the 2017–18 season.[14]

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.[15][16]

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