PW Botha (rugby union)

PW Botha

Personal information
Full name	Pieter Willem Botha
Born	24 May 1991 Durban, South Africa
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	117 kg (18 st 6 lb)
School(s) attended	Ficksburg High School, Ficksburg
Club information
Playing position	Loosehead prop
Current club	Griffons
Youth career
2007–12	Griffons
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Pts)^†
2012–13	Glendale Raptors	23	(25)
2014–	Griffons	15	(0)
* Senior club appearances and points correct as of 8 May 2015. † Appearances (Points).

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 Andre 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. "SARU Player Profile PW Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
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. "Match Breakdown: Down Touch Griffons vs Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
9. "Match Breakdown: GWK Griquas vs Down Touch Griffons". South African Rugby Union. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
10. "Match Breakdown: Down Touch Griffons vs Steval Pumas". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
11. "Match Breakdown: Down Touch Griffons vs Boland". South African Rugby Union. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
12. "Currie Cup Griffons win First Division title". Sport24. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.