Ben Botica

Ben Botica
Birth nameBenjamin Botica
Date of birth (1989-10-07) 7 October 1989 (age 35)
Place of birthTakapuna, New Zealand
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Notable relative(s)
Occupation(s)Rugby union player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-Half, Centre
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
North Shore Rugby Club[2] ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011–2012
2012–2016
2016
2017–2019
2019–2021
2021–2023
2023-		 Périgueux
Harlequins
Montpellier
Oyonnax
Bordeaux Bègles
Castres
Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente		 18
95
9
50
17
0		 (208)
(551)
(65)
(687)
(106)
(0)
Correct as of 6 December 2019
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2009–2012 North Harbour 17 (168)

Ben Botica (born 7 October 1989,[3] Takapuna) is a New Zealand rugby union player. A fly-half or centre, he plays for French club Soyaux Angoulême XV Charente.

The son of the New Zealand international Frano Botica, he played rugby at school and was selected to play for the New Zealand Schoolboys team.[4] In 2008, he spent a year in France where he played with the Espoirs (Academy) team of Biarritz Olympique.[5]

He then returned to New Zealand where he joined North Harbour. He played his first professional match in August 2009 against Southland in the Air New Zealand Cup.[6] In 2011, he narrowly missed out on selection for the Auckland Blues franchise and the chance to play in Super Rugby.[4] He returned to France where he played the 2011-2012 Pro D2 season with CA Périgueux.[5]

Late in the season, it was announced that he had signed a two-year contract with Harlequins[1] although he actually signed in October 2011.[7] As a British passport holder, he did not count as a foreign player. In his initial season with Harlequins, he was the top points scorer (with 78) in the LV Cup.[8]

In his final game at Harlequins, the 2016 European Challenge Cup Final, Botica came on as a replacement to face the club he was about to join. With time nearly up and Quins trailing by 7 points he kicked the ball to Montpellier who put it into touch to end the game. Most had expected him to keep the ball live and mount one final attack to attempt to level the scores and take it to extra time.[9][10][11][12] It was Head Coach Conor O'Shea's last game for the club.

Botica joined Montpellier in 2016 and moved to Oyonnax in 2017.

On 16 November 2020, Botica would sign for French rivals Castres on a two-year deal from the 2021–22 season.[13]

  1. ^ a b "Versatile, young New Zealand back signs for Harlequins". quins.co.uk. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  2. ^ "Rugby: Botica happily filling father's famous boots".
  3. ^ "Benjamin Frano Kenny Botica".
  4. ^ a b "Harlequins biography". quins.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Fiche Joueur". itsrugby.fr. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  6. ^ "Botica Jr lines up for Harbour". stuff.co.nz. 25 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  7. ^ "Harlequins bring in Kiwi fly-half". espnscrum.com. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  8. ^ "Anglo-Welsh Cup : Stat 2012/2013". itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  9. ^ "A stupid decision from Ben Botica erases Quins dreams". 13 May 2016.
  10. ^ "Watch Harlequins lose European final after last-minute brain freeze".
  11. ^ "Harlequins Ben Botica inconsolable as blunder seals European Cup for Montpellier". Daily Mirror. 14 May 2016.
  12. ^ "Supporters Can't Understand Why Ben Botica Surrendered Possession to Hand Montpellier Victory". 13 May 2016.
  13. ^ "Castres : Botica débarque pour trois saisons" (in French). Rugbyrama.fr. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2021.