Tobie Botes
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby union biography
| name = Tobie Botes
| image = ST vs Benetton Rugby - 2013-01-13 - 04.jpg
| fullname = Wietz Tobias Botes
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1984|04|26}}
| birth_place = Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa
| height = {{height|m=1.81}}
| weight = {{cvt|110|kg|lb stlb}}
| nickname =
| occupation =
| school = Boland Agricultural High School, Paarl
| university =
| relatives =
| position = Scrum-half, Fly-half
| currentclub =
| youthyears1 = 2004
| youthclubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| youthyears2 = 2005
| youthclubs2 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| years1 = 2004
| clubs1 = {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}
| apps1 = 2
| points1 = 0
| years2 = 2006–2008
| clubs2 = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| apps2 = 45
| points2 = 100
| years3 = 2008
| clubs3 = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| apps3 = 3
| points3 = 0
| years4 = 2008–2014
| clubs4 = Treviso
| apps4 = 100
| points4 = 328
| years5 = 2014
| clubs5 = {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}
| apps5 = 8
| points5 = 7
| repyears1 = 2012–2014
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Italy}}
| repcaps1 = 22
| reppoints1 = 8
| clubupdate = 24 March 2015
| repupdate = 24 March 2015
}}
Wietz Tobias Botes (born 26 April 1984, in Worcester) in a South African-born rugby union player, who most recently played for the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}}.{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=30061 | name=Tobie Botes | date=29 May 2016}} He normally plays as a scrum-half or fly-half.
Despite being born in South Africa, he played in 22 test matches for Italy between 2012 and 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/82750.html?class=1;template=results;type=player;view=match | title=ESPN Scrum - Statsguru - Player analysis - Tobie Botes - Test matches | publisher=ESPN Scrum | accessdate=26 March 2015}}
Career
=Youth rugby=
Botes started off his career at Wellington-based side the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}}, representing them in the 2004 Under-20 Provincial Championship. In 2005, he played for {{Rut|Griquas U21}} in the Under-21 Provincial Championship.
=Senior career=
==Boland Cavaliers==
He made his senior debut for the {{Rut|Boland Cavaliers}} during the 2004 Vodacom Shield competition, starting their match against {{Rut|Western Province}} at {{Rus|Newlands Stadium}}{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=10339 | homeid=4683 | awayid=4688 | leagueid=342 | hometeam=Western Province | homescore=35 | awayscore=25 | awayteam=Boland Kavaliers | matchdate=27 March 2004 | date=2 December 2016}} and made one substitute appearance the following week against the {{Rut|Pumas}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=10342 | homeid=4688 | awayid=4685 | leagueid=342 | hometeam=Boland Kavaliers | homescore=15 | awayscore=14 | awayteam=@lantic Pumas | matchdate=2 April 2004 | date=2 December 2016}}
==Griquas / Cheetahs==
He moved to Kimberley to join the {{Rut|Griquas}} in 2005. After a season playing for their Under-21 side, he graduated to their senior side, making six appearances during the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition, scoring one try, three conversions and a penalty. He made his Currie Cup debut during the 2006 Currie Cup Premier Division, coming on as a substitute against the {{Rut|Blue Bulls}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=13408 | homeid=5641 | awayid=5914 | leagueid=414 | hometeam=Wildeklawer Griquas | homescore=22 | awayscore=60 | awayteam=Vodacom Blue Bulls | matchdate=23 September 2006 | date=2 December 2016}} His first start in the Currie Cup competition came the following week against {{Rut|Western Province}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=13413 | homeid=5915 | awayid=5641 | leagueid=414 | hometeam=Vodacom Western Province | homescore=55 | awayscore=17 | awayteam=Wildeklawer Griquas | matchdate=30 September 2006 | date=2 December 2016}}
After a further eight appearances in the 2007 Vodacom Cup, Botes firmly established himself as a first-team regular, appearing in eleven of {{Rut|Griquas}}' matches during the 2007 Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2008, Botes was also included in the {{Rut|Cheetahs}} squad for the 2008 Super 14 season.{{SA Rugby Squad | teamid=6572 | team=Vodacom Cheetahs | compid=617 | comp=2008 Vodacom Super 14 | accessdate=3 June 2016}} After being an unused substitute in their opening match against the {{Rut|Lions}},{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=15056 | homeid=6572 | awayid=6573 | leagueid=617 | hometeam=Vodacom Cheetahs | homescore=22 | awayscore=23 | awayteam=Auto & General Lions | matchdate=16 February 2008 | date=2 December 2016}} his Super Rugby debut came during their second round match against the {{Rut|Force}} in Bloemfontein.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=15058 | homeid=6572 | awayid=6565 | leagueid=617 | hometeam=Vodacom Cheetahs | homescore=15 | awayscore=16 | awayteam=Western Force | matchdate=22 February 2008 | date=2 December 2016}} He also played off the bench in their match against the {{Rut|Crusaders}} in Christchurch, and made his first start later in the competition against the {{Rut|Bulls}}.{{SA Rugby Match Centre | id=15139 | homeid=6572 | awayid=6571 | leagueid=617 | hometeam=Vodacom Cheetahs | homescore=20 | awayscore=60 | awayteam=Vodacom Bulls | matchdate=17 May 2008 | date=2 December 2016}} During this time, he also made five appearances for Griquas in the 2008 Vodacom Cup and later played in nine matches for them during the 2008 Currie Cup Premier Division competition.
==Treviso==
In 2008, it was announced that Botes would join Italian Super 10 side for the 2008–09 season.{{cite web | url=http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/08/22/VB/19/pjTobieBotes.html | title=Talentvolle Tobie Botes na Treviso | publisher=Volksblad | date=22 August 2008 | accessdate=3 June 2014 | language=Afrikaans | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606213543/http://152.111.11.6/argief/berigte/volksblad/2008/08/22/VB/19/pjTobieBotes.html | archivedate=6 June 2014 | df=dmy-all }} He immediately established himself as a first-choice regular and scored 328 points in a hundred appearances for the club between 2008 and 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_6154.html | title=It's Rugby Player Profile : Tobie Botes | publisher=It's Rugby | accessdate=3 June 2014}} In the six seasons he spent at the club, they won the Super 10 on two occasions – in 2008–09 and 2009–10 – and also won the Italian Cup in 2010.
He was the top scorer for Benetton Treviso during the 2010–11 Celtic League with 127 points, making a total of 48 appearances in the competition during his spell at the club.{{cite web | url=http://www.pro12rugby.com/statzone/players.php?player=73808&includeref=dynamic#ljo5jOLdXBYE3KWJ.97 | title=Player list : Guinness PRO12 : Stats : Tobias Botes | publisher=Pro12 | accessdate=26 March 2015}}
==Eastern Province Kings==
He returned to South Africa by joining the {{Rut|Eastern Province Kings}} prior to the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.{{cite web | url=http://www.rugby365.com/article/60397-kings-go-shopping-overseas | title=Kings go shopping overseas | publisher=Rugby365 | date=3 June 2014 | accessdate=3 June 2014}} He made eight appearances for the Kings in the competition, but wasn't named in the training squad for the 2015 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby15.co.za/ep-kings-pre-season-training-squad-announcedee/ | title=EP Kings Pre Season Training Squad announcedee | publisher=Rugby15 | date=5 November 2014 | access-date=5 November 2014 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422094125/http://www.rugby15.co.za/2014/11/ep-kings-pre-season-training-squad-announcedee/ | archive-date=22 April 2016 | df=dmy-all }} Instead, he concentrated on farming at his family farm near Worcester. It was initially indicated that he would to this for the first half of 2015 before returning to action for the EP Kings for the 2015 Currie Cup Premier Division,{{cite web | url=http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2014/11/22/14/mgtobie_32_0_247708285.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20141124095011/http://152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/2014/11/22/14/mgtobie_32_0_247708285.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 November 2014 | title=Harige stut stook Italië se vuur | publisher=Die Burger | date=22 November 2014 | accessdate=24 November 2014 | language=Afrikaans }} but it was later confirmed that he would not return to Port Elizabeth.{{cite web | url=http://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/the-herald-south-africa/20150527/282256664091558/TextView | title=Blow for Kings as Botes not returning | work=Herald | date=27 May 2015 | accessdate=27 May 2015}}
=Italy=
Although he was born in South Africa, Botes played international rugby for {{nrut|Italy}}. In January 2012, he was called up to the Italian squad as cover for the 2012 Six Nations Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2012/0116/italy.html |title=Italy reveal Six Nations squad |work=RTÉ Sport |date=16 January 2012 |accessdate=30 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119041100/http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2012/0116/italy.html |archivedate=19 January 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/worldcup.asp?id=33444 |title=Italy call up 4 uncapped players for Six Nations |work=Rugbyweek.com |date=16 January 2012 |accessdate=30 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607001039/http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/worldcup.asp?id=33444 |archivedate=7 June 2014 }}
He was named amongst the replacements for the opening game against {{nrut|France}} on 4 February 2012{{cite web | url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/rugby/wires/02/01/2080.ap.rgu.italy.team.2nd.ld.writethru.0297/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606225953/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/rugby/wires/02/01/2080.ap.rgu.italy.team.2nd.ld.writethru.0297/index.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=6 June 2014 | title=Brunel overhauls Italy for his 6 Nations debut | work=Sports Illustrated | date=1 February 2012 | accessdate=1 February 2012}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/19937.php | title=Italy bring in Botes as cover | work=RBS6nations | date=2 February 2012 | accessdate=2 February 2012 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130201053116/http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/19937.php | archivedate=1 February 2013 | df=dmy-all }} and made his debut, coming on as a replacement just before the hour mark and kicking a penalty shortly after coming on to score his first international points in a 12–30 loss.{{cite web | url=http://www.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/match/133767.html | title=France v Italy at Stade de France | publisher=ESPN Scrum | date=4 February 2012 | accessdate=26 March 2015}} He made a total of five appearances during the 2012 Six Nations Championship, scoring eight points and also played in three matches against touring sides {{nrut|Tonga}}, {{nrut|New Zealand}} and {{nrut|Australia}} in November 2012.
He once again appeared in all five of Italy's matches during the 2013 Six Nations Championship, helping them to two victories during the competition. In June 2013, he was included in a touring squad to South Africa to play in a quadrangular tournament also involving {{nrut|Samoa}} and {{nrut|Scotland}}, but could not help Italy achieve a victory in any of those matches. He also played in three 2013 end-of-year rugby union internationals against {{nrut|Australia}}, {{nrut|Fiji}} and {{nrut|Argentina}}.
He made three more appearances for Italy during the 2014 Six Nations Championship for a total of 22 test matches, scoring eight points through one conversion and two penalties.
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Botes, Tobie}}
Category:Italian rugby union players
Category:Italy international rugby union players
Category:Boland Cavaliers players
Category:Cheetahs (rugby union) players
Category:Eastern Province Elephants players
Category:Griquas (rugby union) players
Category:Benetton Rugby players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:Rugby union fly-halves