Bakkies Botha facts for kids
Bakkies Botha, dressed in the Springbok change kit after a pre-match warm up
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | John Philip Botha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 September 1979 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Newcastle, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.02 m (6 ft 7+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 124 kg (273 lb; 19 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | HTS Middelburg and Vereeniging HTS, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Philip Botha (born 22 September 1979), famously known as Bakkies Botha, is a South African rugby legend. He played as a lock, a key position in rugby. Bakkies was part of the South Africa team, often called the Springboks.
He helped the Springboks win the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. He also won two Tri Nations titles in 2004 and 2009. Botha played for top clubs like RC Toulonnais in France and the Blue Bulls and Bulls in South Africa. He won the Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup with Toulon three times. Bakkies Botha was well-known for his strong partnership with fellow lock Victor Matfield. They played together for both the Bulls and the Springboks.
Contents
Bakkies Botha's Rugby Journey
Bakkies Botha started his rugby journey playing for South Africa's under-19 and under-23 teams. In 2001, he joined the South African "A" team for a tour in Europe. The next year, he was chosen for the main national team, the Springboks. His first game was against France in Marseille on 9 September 2002.
Playing Style and Teamwork
Botha and his teammate Victor Matfield formed a very strong partnership. They played together as locks for their province, the Blue Bulls, and for their country, the Springboks. Bakkies Botha was known for his tough and physical playing style.
Tough Moments on the Field
Bakkies Botha's strong playing style sometimes led to difficult situations. He received yellow cards and suspensions during his career. For example, in 2009, he was banned for two weeks for a dangerous tackle during a game against the British & Irish Lions. This incident caused a lot of discussion. Later, in 2010, he was suspended for four weeks for another dangerous play while captaining the Bulls. He also received a nine-week suspension in 2010 for a head-on-head contact during a game against New Zealand. Despite these moments, his teammates and coaches often supported him.
Major Achievements and Trophies
Bakkies Botha has won many important rugby titles throughout his career. He is one of the most successful rugby players in the world.
Success with the Blue Bulls
- Vodacom Cup: 2001
- Currie Cup: 2002, 2004, 2006 (shared), 2009
Winning with the Bulls
- Super Rugby: 2007, 2009, 2010
Triumphs with Toulon
- Heineken Cup European Champions / European Rugby Champions Cup: 2013, 2014, 2015
- Top 14 French League: 2014
International Honours with South Africa
- Rugby World Cup: 2007
- Tri-Nations: 2004, 2009
- British & Irish Lions series win: 2009
- Mandela Challenge Plate: 2005, 2009
- Freedom Cup: 2004, 2009
- Prince William Cup: 2007, 2008, 2010
Life After Rugby
After retiring from professional rugby, Bakkies Botha started a new business. As of 2019, he runs a butchery business in South Africa. It is called "Bakkies the Butcher."
See also
In Spanish: Bakkies Botha para niños
