Regarded amongst his peers as one of the world’s formidable scrummagers during his playing days, BJ Botha enjoyed a memorable career for the Springboks, Sharks and eventually for two well-known teams in Ireland.
From 2001 to 2008, Botha became a mainstay for the Sharks in Durban, which ultimately laid the foundation for his Springbok call-up.
The powerful prop went on to make his Test debut in 2006, while also forming part of the Springboks’ successful 2007 World Cup-winning squad.
However, in 2008 he opted to make a decisive career move when he signed for Irish club Ulster, which temporarily put him out of the Springbok picture as they opted against selecting overseas-based players for the 2009 British & Irish Lions series.
He would feature in six more Tests in 2010, but that would be the last year he featured on the international scene, ending his Springbok career with 25 caps.
A year later he switched Irish teams to join powerhouse club Munster, where he would rack up over 100 appearances between 2011 and 2016 before a serious knee injury threatened to bring an end to his career.
However, Botha was able to enjoy one last stint in France with Lyon and then Biarritz in the Pro D2 before hanging up his boots.
What is former Springbok BJ Botha up to now?
The 44-year-old and his family have made Ireland home, with all five of his children having been born in Ireland. Botha became an Irish citizen in 2016, while his wife Taryn gained citizenship soon after.
After retiring, Botha immediately moved into coaching with a rugby club based in Limerick, but they then briefly moved back to South Africa to be closer to their family in the Western Cape during the pandemic.
During that time he took up a coaching role at Paarl Boys’ High School, and launched a consultancy business called ‘Tight 5′, mainly aimed at mentoring front-row players making the transition from schools rugby, but also working with schools wanting to refine their scrum technique.
Yet, when the opportunity to return to Ireland came up, the Bothas jumped at the chance.
The former Springbok forward is now the head coach of All-Ireland League side UL Bohemians, and also runs the rugby programme at a picturesque private school, Glenstal Abbey, while self-admittedly remaining a bit of a ‘scrum nerd’.
“The head coach role is difficult to prepare for because you only learn the skills of a head coach once you’re actually in the role,” he commented during a recent interview. “It’s a lot of delegating, managing of players, managing of emotions, not so much actually coaching. You have to let go a bit and give responsibility to your assistant coaches.”
WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES FROM HIS CAREER?
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