James Botham

James Botham

Full name	James Ian Botham
Date of birth	(1998-02-22) 22 February 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	108 kg (238 lb; 17 st 0 lb)
School	Sedbergh School
Notable relative(s)	Liam Botham (father) Ian Botham (grandfather)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flanker, Number 8 Current team Cardiff Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2016– Cardiff 58 (70) International career Years Team Apps (Points) 2017–2018 Wales U20 10 (15) 2017 Wales 7s 7 (10) 2020– Wales 17 (15) Correct as of 26 November 2024

James Ian Botham (born 22 February 1998) is a Welsh professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for United Rugby Championship club Cardiff and the Wales national team.^[1]

Early life

The grandson of all-round cricketer Ian Botham, James was born in Cardiff while his father Liam Botham was playing for Cardiff RFC as a wing. After his father moved to Newcastle Falcons for the 2000–01 season, James was educated at Sedbergh School, a boarding school in Cumbria.^[2][3]

Club career

Botham joined the Cardiff academy in 2016, and in the 2018–19 season started making appearances for the senior team, initially in the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and then debuted in the Pro14 against Connacht Rugby. Botham signed his first professional contract with Cardiff in March 2019.^[4][5]

Botham was selected as Man of the Match against the Dragons on 26 December 2020.^[6]

International career

Botham made his debut for Wales U18 on 25 March 2016 against Scotland under-18 at St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground, Swansea, scoring a try in the 31-30 victory.^[7] Botham made his first appearance for Wales U20 in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.^[8]

In early 2017, Botham was selected by Wales Sevens for the World Rugby Sevens Series, making his first appearance during the New Zealand leg.^[9]

On 16 November 2020, Botham was called up to the senior Wales rugby side for the Autumn Nations Cup tournament.^[10] Botham made his test debut against Georgia on 21 November 2020, starting on the blindside.^[11] He started the following two matches of the tournament, against England and Italy.

Botham was selected in the squad for the 2021 Six Nations Championship, making three appearances off the bench as Wales won the championship and Triple Crown.^[12]

Botham retained his place in the squad for the 2021 July rugby union tests, and score his first try for Wales in the win over Canada.^[13] Botham made two further appearances, starting both matches against Argentina.

Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Botham underwent shoulder surgery, which ruled him out of the 2021 end-of-year rugby union internationals.^[14] Botham was not selected for the 2022 Six Nations squad, having suffered a head injury just prior.^[15]

In Wales final fixture of the 2024 Autumn Nations Series, Botham scored a late try in a 45-12 defeat to South Africa. Despite the result, this try would prevent Wales from sustaining their margin in a home loss in an international fixture.^[16]

Career statistics

List of international tries

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	3 July 2021	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Canada	12–5	68–12	2021 July rugby union tests

as of 3 July 2021^[update]

References

1. "James Botham". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
2. Steve May (31 May 2017). "Wales inherits Botham dynasty". The Times. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
3. Media, P. A. (19 November 2020). "James Botham has 'big future' with Wales, says Pivac as player makes debut". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
4. "Pro14: James Botham and Keiron Assiratti signs first Cardiff deal". BBC Sport. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
5. "James Botham, grandson of Sir Ian, earns Cardiff professional deal". Sky Sports. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
6. James, Steve. "James Botham: Grandad just tells me to smash it. I want to make my own name". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
7. Andy Howell (25 March 2016). "'This is his dream... He's always said he's Welsh!' English cricket legend Ian Botham has no qualms about his grandson playing for Wales". Wales Online. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
8. "Scotland U20 34-65 Wales U20". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
9. "Botham makes debut for Wales Sevens". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
10. "Wales call up James Botham and Johnny McNicholl". BBC Rugby Union. 16 November 2020.
11. "Botham to make Wales debut against Georgia". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
12. "Wales name squad for 2021 Guinness Six Nations - Welsh Rugby Union". Welsh Rugby Union | Wales & Regions. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
13. "Wales name five uncapped players". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
14. Rugby, Planet (2 September 2021). "James Botham injury blow hits Cardiff". PlanetRugby. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
15. "Cardiff wait on injury to Botham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
16. "Players eager to avoid politics but appeal for time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

External links

• James Botham at European Professional Club Rugby
• James Botham at Welsh Rugby Union
• James Botham at ESPNscrum
• James Botham at ItsRugby.co.uk
• James Botham at Welsh Rugby Union
• Cardiff profile