Renier Botha

Renier Botha

Date of birth	(1992-09-28) 28 September 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth	Bloemfontein, South Africa
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	73 kg (11 st 7 lb; 161 lb)
School	Diamantveld High School, Kimberley
University	University of the Free State
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half Youth career 2010 Griquas 2013 Free State Cheetahs 2013 → Griquas Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 2013–2016 UFS Shimlas 17 (15) Senior career Years Team Apps (Points) 2014–2016 Free State XV 14 (15) 2014 Cheetahs 1 (0) 2016–2018 Griquas 31 (50) Correct as of 30 April 2018

Renier Botha (born 28 September 1992) is a South African professional rugby union player who last played forGriquas in the Currie Cup and in the Rugby Challenge.^[1] His regular position is scrum-half.

Career

Youth and Varsity rugby

After playing high school rugby with Kimberley-based Diamantveld High School, Botha was included in the Griquas squad for the 2010 Under-18 Craven Week tournament in Welkom.^[2] He also made one appearance for the Griquas U19 side in the Under-19 provincial championships.^[3]

Botha went to the University of the Free State, playing club rugby for them and making their Varsity Cup squad for the 2013 Varsity Cup. He made four starts for the side, scoring one try against the NWU Pukke.^[4] Towards the end of the season, Botha also made three appearances for former side Griquas U21 in the 2013 Under-21 Provincial Championship competition, playing as a centre.

Botha didn't make the UFS Shimlas squad for the 2014 Varsity Cup,^[5] instead playing Vodacom Cup rugby for the Free State XV.

Free State Cheetahs

Botha made his first class debut during the 2014 Vodacom Cup competition, eventually playing in all eight matches of the Free State XV's season. He started their opening match of the season against the SWD Eagles^[6] and scored his first points in senior rugby when he got a try shortly before half-time in their match against the Sharks XV,^[7] one of three tries he scored during the campaign.

With no Currie Cup experience, Botha was a surprise inclusion on the bench for the Cheetahs' match against the Brumbies during the 2014 Super Rugby season. He got the opportunity due to an injury to first choice scrum-half Sarel Pretorius and with Griquas scrum-half Tian Meyer being involved in the 2014 Vodacom Cup final.^[8]

Griquas

Botha moved to Kimberley during 2016 to join Griquas.^[9]

References

1. "SA Rugby Player Profile – Renier Botha". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
2. "Van Niekerk lei GW op Cravenweek". Volksblad. 17 May 2010. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
3. "24 uur". Volksblad. 20 August 2010. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
4. "SA Rugby Match Centre – FNB Shimlas 38–18 FNB NWU-Pukke". South African Rugby Union. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
5. "Horak verklein Shimlas-groep tot 33 spelers". Volksblad (in Afrikaans). 20 January 2014. Archived from the original on 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
6. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 52–47 SWD Eagles". South African Rugby Union. 8 March 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
7. "SA Rugby Match Centre – Toyota Free State XV 22–23 Cell C Sharks XV". South African Rugby Union. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
8. "Van Shimlas tot Super-rugby vir Renier". Beeld. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
9. "Griekwas span oud-Leeu teen Luiperds in". Netwerk24 (in Afrikaans). 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.