Arno Botha

Arnoldus Francois Botha (born 26 October 1991) is a South African rugby union footballer for the Blue Bulls and Bulls. He can operate either as a flanker or number 8.

Arno Botha
Full nameArnoldus Francois Botha
Date of birth (1991-10-26) 26 October 1991
Place of birthNylstroom, South Africa
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight108 kg (17 st 0 lb; 238 lb)
SchoolNylstroom High School
UniversityUniversity of Pretoria
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8
Current team Blue Bulls / Bulls
Youth career
2009 Limpopo Blue Bulls
2010–2012 Blue Bulls
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 UP Tuks 5 (10)
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2016 Blue Bulls 34 (30)
2012–2017 Bulls 47 (5)
2017 Blue Bulls XV 1 (0)
2018 London Irish 7 (5)
2018–2020 Munster 43 (40)
2020– Blue Bulls 0 (0)
Correct as of 29 February 2020
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011 South Africa U20 5 (35)
2012–2013 South Africa 2 (0)
2016 South Africa 'A' 1 (0)
Correct as of 10 April 2018

School and early career

Botha began primary school at Laerskool Messina before moving to Nylstroom. He was captain of the rugby first team of Hoërskool Nylstroom for 2 years and he represented Limpopo at the Craven Week competitions in 2008 and 2009.

He represented the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup.[1][2] In 2013, he signed a contract extension to keep him at the Blue Bulls until 2016.[3]

Representative rugby

Youth

He was captain of the South Africa Under 20 team that competed in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship in Italy and was also named South Africa Under 20 player of the year.[4][5][6]

Botha made his debut for the Springboks against Italy on 8 June 2013 at Kings Park Stadium in Durban as the No. 7 flank.[7] In his second test against Scotland on 15 June 2013 in Nelspruit, Botha left the field after four minutes of play, having ruptured ligaments in his left knee.[8]

South Africa 'A'

In 2016, Botha was included in a South Africa 'A' squad that played a two-match series against a touring England Saxons team.[9] He didn't play in their first match in Bloemfontein,[10] but started the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat in George.[11]

Europe

London Irish

In January 2018, he joined English Premiership side London Irish.[12]

Munster

Botha joined Irish Pro14 side Munster on a one-year contract for the 2018–19 season.[13] He made his competitive debut on 1 September 2018, starting at number 8 in their opening 2018–19 Pro14 fixture against South African side Cheetahs in Thomond Park, a game which Munster won 38–0.[14] Botha scored his first try for Munster in the provinces 49–13 win against Ospreys on 14 September 2018.[15] Botha made his Champions Cup debut for Munster on 20 October 2018, coming off the bench in the provinces 36–22 win against English side Gloucester in pool 2. He signed a one-year contract extension with Munster in December 2018, a deal that will see him remain with the province until at least June 2020.[16]

Botha was shown a red card for foul play in the 81st minute of Munster's 10–3 win against English side Saracens on 7 December 2019, and was subsequently banned for three weeks.[17] He scored a hat-trick of tries in Munster's 68–3 win against South African side Southern Kings in round 11 of the 2019–20 Pro14 on 14 February 2020.[18]

Return to South Africa

Botha returned to South Africa to join Blue Bulls in July 2020.[19]

References
  1. "Arno Botha Bulls Player Profile". Bulls.co.za. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  2. "Arno Botha itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  3. "Young stars extend Bulls stay". Sport24. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  4. "Arno Botha IRB JWC Player Profile". IRB. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. "SA Under 20 squad named". Sport 24. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  6. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Arno Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa 44-10 Italy". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  8. "Botha ruled out for season". Sport24. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  9. "'Oupa' Mohoje named captain of SA 'A' team". South African Rugby Union. 5 June 2016. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  10. "Youth and experience for SA 'A' opener against Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  11. "SA Rugby Match Centre – South Africa "A" 26-29 England Saxons". South African Rugby Union. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  12. "London Irish sign Springbok back row Arno Botha" (Press release). London Irish. 4 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  13. "Munster Sign Arno Botha". Munster Rugby. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  14. "Match Report | Winning Start at Thomond Park". Munster Rugby. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  15. "Report | Munster Beat Ospreys In Cork". Munster Rugby. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  16. "12 Munster Players Sign Contract Extensions". Munster Rugby. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  17. "Arno Botha To Miss Three Weeks Of Action". Munster Rugby. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  18. "Report | Munster Secure Record Win Over Southern Kings". Munster Rugby. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  19. "Arno Botha Departing For Blue Bulls". Munster Rugby. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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