Arno Botha

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Arno Botha

| image =

| fullname = Arnoldus Francois Botha

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = Nylstroom, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa

| height = {{height|m=1.88}}

| weight = {{convert|108|kg|st lbs|abbr=on}}

| school = Nylstroom High School

| university = University of Pretoria

| relatives =

| position = Flanker, Number 8

| currentclub = {{Rut|Lyon}}

| youthyears1 = 2009

| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Limpopo Blue Bulls}}

| youthyears2 = 2010–2012

| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| years1 = 2011–2016

| clubs1 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps1 = 34

| points1 = 30

| years2 = 2012–2017

| clubs2 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| apps2 = 47

| points2 = 5

| years3 = 2017

| clubs3 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls XV}}

| apps3 = 1

| points3 = 0

| years4 = 2018

| clubs4 = London Irish

| apps4 = 7

| points4 = 5

| years5 = 2018–2020

| clubs5 = Munster

| apps5 = 43

| points5 = 40

| years6 = 2020–2022

| clubs6 = {{Rut|Bulls}}

| apps6 = 26

| points6 = 20

| years7 = 2020–2022

| clubs7 = {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}

| apps7 = 24

| points7 = 30

| years8 = 2022–

| clubs8 = {{Rut|Lyon}}

| apps8 = 19

| points8 = 30

| amatyears1 = 2011

| amatteam1 = {{Rut|UP Tuks}}

| amatapps1 = 5

| amatpoints1 = 10

| repyears1 = 2011

| repteam1 = South Africa U20

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 35

| repyears2 = 2012–2013

| repteam2 = {{nrut|South Africa}}

| repcaps2 = 2

| reppoints2 = 0

| repyears3 = 2016

| repteam3 = South Africa 'A'

| repcaps3 = 1

| reppoints3 = 0

| clubupdate = 23 July 2022

| repupdate = 10 April 2018

}}

Arnoldus Francois Botha (born 26 October 1991) is a South African rugby union footballer for Lyon in the French Top 14. His position is either flanker or number 8.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.thebulls.co.za/profile.aspx?pid=1001&team=Senior |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421215302/http://www.thebulls.co.za/profile.aspx?pid=1001&team=Senior |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |title=Arno Botha Bulls Player Profile |work=Bulls.co.za |access-date=1 August 2013 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_23750.html | title=Arno Botha itsrugby.co.uk Player Statistics | work=itsrugby.co.uk | access-date=1 August 2013}} In 2013, he signed a contract extension to keep him at the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} until 2016.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Super15/Young-stars-extend-Bulls-stay-20130621 | title=Young stars extend Bulls stay | work=Sport24 | date=20 June 2013 | access-date=21 June 2013}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://it.irb.com/jwc/teams/team=3220/player=43545/index.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130801145511/http://it.irb.com/jwc/teams/team=3220/player=43545/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2013 |title=Arno Botha IRB JWC Player Profile |work=IRB |access-date=1 August 2013 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SA-Under-20-squad-named-20110506 | title=SA Under 20 squad named | work=Sport 24 | access-date=1 August 2013}}{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=49527 | name=Arno Botha | date=29 May 2016}}

Botha made his debut for the Springboks against {{nrut|Italy}} on 8 June 2013 at Kings Park Stadium in Durban as the No. 7 flank.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=102664 | homeid=11404 | awayid=11394 | leagueid=1144 | hometeam=South Africa | homescore=44 | awayscore=10 | awayteam=Italy | matchdate=8 June 2013 | date=21 June 2016}} In his second test against {{nrut|Scotland}} on 15 June 2013 in Nelspruit, Botha left the field after four minutes of play, having ruptured ligaments in his left knee.{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Springboks/Botha-ruled-out-for-season-20130616 | title=Botha ruled out for season | work=Sport24 | date=16 June 2013 | access-date=21 June 2013}}

=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.{{SA Rugby Article | id=3559864 | leagueid=3024 | title=‘Oupa’ Mohoje named captain of SA ‘A’ team | date=5 June 2016 | access-date=6 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3559864&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606123509/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3559864&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 June 2016}} He didn't play in their first match in Bloemfontein,{{SA Rugby Article | id=3563654 | leagueid=3024 | title=Youth and experience for SA ‘A’ opener against Saxons | date=8 June 2016 | access-date=10 June 2016 | url=http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610203333/http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?id=3563654&leagueid=3024 | url-status=dead | archive-date=10 June 2016}} but started the second match of the series, a 26–29 defeat in George.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=164784 | homeid=33504 | awayid=33494 | leagueid=3024 | hometeam=South Africa "A" | homescore=26 | awayscore=29 | awayteam=England Saxons | matchdate=17 June 2016 | date=19 June 2016}}

Europe

=London Irish=

In January 2018, he joined English Premiership side London Irish.{{cite press release | url=http://www.london-irish.com/news/london-irish-sign-springbok-back-row-arno-botha/bp1658 | title=London Irish sign Springbok back row Arno Botha | publisher=London Irish | date=4 January 2018 | access-date=4 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104125100/http://www.london-irish.com/news/london-irish-sign-springbok-back-row-arno-botha/bp1658 | archive-date=4 January 2018 | url-status=live | df=dmy-all}}

=Munster=

Botha joined Irish Pro14 side Munster on a one-year contract for the 2018–19 season.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/05/17/munster-sign-arno-botha/|title=Munster Sign Arno Botha|date=17 May 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=17 May 2018}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/match-report-winning-start-at-thomond-park/|title=Match Report | Winning Start at Thomond Park|date=1 September 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=1 September 2018}} Botha scored his first try for Munster in the provinces 49–13 win against Ospreys on 14 September 2018.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-beat-ospreys-in-cork/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Beat Ospreys In Cork|date=14 September 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=15 September 2018}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://munsterrugby.ie/2018/12/04/contract-boost-for-munster/|title=12 Munster Players Sign Contract Extensions|date=4 December 2018|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=4 December 2018}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2019/12/11/arno-botha-to-miss-three-weeks-of-action/|title=Arno Botha To Miss Three Weeks Of Action|date=11 December 2019|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=12 December 2019}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/report/report-munster-secure-record-win-over-southern-kings/|title=Report {{!}} Munster Secure Record Win Over Southern Kings|date=14 February 2020|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=14 February 2020}}

Return to South Africa

Botha returned to South Africa to join {{Rut|Blue Bulls}} in July 2020,{{cite news|url=https://www.munsterrugby.ie/2020/05/15/arno-botha-departing-for-blue-bulls/|title=Arno Botha Departing For Blue Bulls|date=15 May 2020|work=Munster Rugby|access-date=15 May 2020}} and was part of the team that won back-to-back Currie Cup's in 2020 and 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curriecup/bulls-complete-rare-double-by-winning-currie-cup-in-extra-time-20210130|title=Bulls beat Sharks to lift Currie Cup trophy after extra-time thriller|date=30 January 2021|work=News24|access-date=26 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curriecup/chris-smith-at-flyhalf-as-bulls-make-minimal-changes-for-currie-cup-final-20210910|title=Chris Smith at flyhalf as Bulls make minimal changes for Currie Cup final|date=10 September 2021|work=News24|access-date=26 September 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://bullsrugby.co.za/back-to-back-carling-currie-cup-titles-for-vodacom-bulls/|title=Back-to-back Carling Currie Cup titles for Vodacom Bulls|date=11 September 2021|work=Bulls Rugby|access-date=26 September 2021}}