PW Botha (rugby union)

PW Botha
Full name Pieter Willem Botha
Date of birth (1991-05-24) 24 May 1991
Place of birth Durban, South Africa
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 117 kg (18 st 6 lb; 258 lb)
School Ficksburg High School, Ficksburg
Rugby union career
Position(s) Loosehead prop
Current team Griffons
Youth Career
2007–2012 Griffons
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2012–2013 Glendale Raptors 23 (25)
2014–present Griffons 19 (0)
Correct as of 9 October 2016

Pieter Willem Botha (born 24 May 1991 in Durban, South Africa) is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with the Griffons.[1] His regular position is loosehead prop.

Career

Youth

In 2007, he earned his first selection at provincial level when he was chosen for the Griffons side that played at the Under-16 Grant Khomo Week.[2] He also represented the Griffons Country Districts side at the Under-18 Academy Week in 2008[3] and the Griffons' Under-18 side at the Craven Week in 2009.[4]

In 2012, he played for the Griffons U21 side in the 2012 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring two tries in six starts in the competition.

Glendale Raptors

In 2012, he joined the United States-based side the Glendale Raptors for two seasons under head coach and former Springbok André Snyman.[5][6] He featured in all the spring season games and helped them reach the National Division 1. In 2013, the Raptors got promoted to the inaugural Elite Cup where they just missed a play-off spot.

Griffons

He made the step up to the senior side in 2014.[7] He was included in their squad for the 2014 Vodacom Cup and came on as a substitute in a 62–10 victory over the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Bultfontein to make his first class debut at the age of 22.[8] He also played off the bench in their next match against Griquas[9] before making his first senior start, playing the first hour of their 69–5 loss to Mpumalanga-based side Pumas in Welkom.[10] He started two more matches as the Griffons finished sixth in the Northern Section and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.

His Currie Cup debut came a few months later. He played off the bench in the Griffons' 27–25 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Welkom.[11] He started one match during the competition and made a further three substitute appearances as the Griffons finished third to qualify for the 2014 Currie Cup First Division. He made an additional two substitute appearances in the First Division as the Griffons won the competition, their first trophy for six years.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – PW Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  2. ↑ "Griffon-spanne vir toernooie bekend gemaak" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 11 June 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "Griffon-spanne vir onderskeie weke bekend" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Venter op weegskaal; Fiksheidstoets vandag vir puik SA Skolesenter" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 13 June 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Japie lei Perses teen Griekwas" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Glendale Raptors Rugby Hosts Highlanders". 7News Denver. 22 March 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Drie Griffons-staatmakers tree uit" (in Afrikaans). Volksblad. 11 January 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 62-10 Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – GWK Griquas 20-12 Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 5-69 Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Down Touch Griffons 27-25 Boland". South African Rugby Union. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Currie Cup Griffons win First Division title". Sport24. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
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