Ruan Botha
Ruan Botha (born 10 January 1992) is a South African rugby union player. He plays as a lock for Kubota Spears in the Japanese Top League. He made his provincial debut on 31 March 2012 as the Golden Lions thrashed the Griffons 71–25 in Johannesburg. Botha started the match before being replaced in the 62nd minute by Hendrik Roodt.[2]
Date of birth | 10 January 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place of birth | Brakpan, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 2.05 m (6 ft 8+1⁄2 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 124 kg (19 st 7 lb; 273 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Jeugland Hoërskool | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
His first call-up to the Lions Super Rugby team came ahead of the side's Australian tour during the 2012 Super Rugby season. He made the starting fifteen for the first time in the match against the Chiefs in Pukekohe on 5 May 2012.[3]
Botha was named in the South Africa Under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[4]
He joined Western Province for the 2013 season.[5]
In May 2019, following three years with Sharks he signed for English Premiership Rugby side London Irish on a initial 6 month contract.[6] He was due to return to Irish following the 2019–20 Top League season in Japan which he would spend with Kubota Spears. However, in July 2020 London Irish confirmed he would not be returning.[7]
References
- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Ruan Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- "SA Rugby Match Centre – MTN Golden Lions 71–25 Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 31 March 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- "Lions make five changes". supersport.com. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- "Goosen, Kitshoff, Du Toit nucleus of powerful SA U20 JWC squad". South African Rugby Union. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- "Lions lose fourth player in a week". SuperSport. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- "London Irish sign Ruan Botha | 20th May 2019 | News". London Irish. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- "Wallabies centurion Rob Simmons signs for London Irish | 31st July 2020 | News". London Irish. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
External links
- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Ruan Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
- itsrugby.co.uk profile
- IRB profile