Ben Botica

Ben Botica (born 7 October 1989,[3] Takapuna) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A fly-half or centre, he plays for French club Bordeaux Bègles.

Ben Botica

Birth name	Benjamin Botica
Date of birth	(1989-10-07) 7 October 1989
Place of birth	Takapuna, New Zealand
Height	180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight	85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Frano Botica (Father) Jacob Botica (Brother)
Occupation(s)	Rugby union player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-Half, Centre Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) North Shore Rugby Club[2] () Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2011–2012 2012–2016 2016 2017–2019 2019– Périgueux Harlequins Montpellier Oyonnax Bordeaux Bègles 18 95 9 50 17 (208) (551) (65) (687) (106) Correct as of 6 December 2019 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 2009–2012 North Harbour 17 (168)

The son of the New Zealand international Frano Botica, he played rugby at school and was selected to play for the New Zealand Schoolboys team.[4] In 2008, he spent a year in France where he played with the Espoirs (Academy) team of Biarritz Olympique.[5]

He then returned to New Zealand where he joined North Harbour. He played his first professional match in August 2009 against Southland in the Air New Zealand Cup.[6] In 2011, he narrowly missed out on selection for the Auckland Blues franchise and the chance to play in Super Rugby.[4] He returned to France where he played the 2011-2012 Pro D2 season with CA Périgueux.[5]

Late in the season, it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract with Harlequins[1] although he actually signed in October 2011.[7] As a British passport holder, he did not count as a foreign player. In his initial season with Harlequins, he was the top points scorer (with 78) in the LV Cup.[8]

Botica joined Montpellier in 2016 and moved to Oyonnax in 2017.