Darius Botha
{{short description|South African rugby union footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Darius Botha
| image =
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| birth_name = Daniël Sarel Botha
| nickname =
| birth_date = 26 June 1955
| birth_place = Breyten, Mpumalanga, South Africa
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|02|12|1955|6|26|df=yes}}
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| height = {{convert|1.83|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|93|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Wing
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| ru_province1 = Northern Transvaal
| ru_provinceyears1 = 1976–1981
| ru_provinceapps1 = 61
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| repteam1 = South Africa
| repyears1 = 1981
| repcaps1 = 1
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| relatives = Naas Botha (brother)
| school = Hendrik Verwoerd High School, Pretoria
| university = University of Pretoria, University of Stellenbosch
| website =
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Daniël Sarel 'Darius' Botha (26 June 1955 – 12 February 2018) was a South African rugby union player.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/9356.html|title=Darius Botha|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=2019-10-11}}
Playing career
Botha played for the Northern Transvaal under–20 side in 1974 to 1975 and made his debut for the Northern Transvaal senior side in 1976. He and his younger brother Naas, played for Northern Transvaal in five Currie Cup finals from 1977 to 1981. In four of those five years, 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981 Northern Transvaal won the Currie Cup and in 1979 they shared it with Western Province.
Botha played in only one test match for the Springboks, being the first test on the 1981 tour to New Zealand at Lancaster Park, Christchurch. He also played in seven tour matches for the Springboks, scoring three tries.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/36916860|title=South African rugby test players 1949-1995|last=Jooste, Graham K.|date=1995|publisher=Penguin|isbn=0140250174|location=Johannesburg|pages=109|oclc=36916860}}
= Test history =
| class="wikitable" | ||||||
| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Points | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | {{ru|NZL}} | 9–14 | Wing | 15 August 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch |
Death
Botha was first diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2014. After an operation the cancer went into remission, but unfortunately in November 2017, the cancer returned and Botha died on 12 February 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/naas-bothas-brother-dies-of-cancer-20180212|title=Naas Botha's brother dies of cancer|date=2018-02-13|website=Sport|language=en|access-date=2019-10-11}}
See also
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 522