Louis Jacques Botes (born 28 November 1980 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former professional rugby union player. He played domestic rugby for the Pumas between 2002 and 2004 and for the Sharks between 2005 and 2014 and also played Super Rugby for the Sharks between 2005 and 2014. He usually played as a flanker or a number eight.
| Full name | Louis Jacques Botes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 28 November 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Johannesburg, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 99 kg (15 st 8 lb; 218 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Potchefstroom Gymnasium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Pretoria | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In 2014, he broke Helgard Müller's Currie Cup appearance record, eventually going on to play in 156 Currie Cup matches. In addition, he played in 115 Super Rugby matches for the Sharks, made one appearance for the Emerging Springboks during the 2009 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa and played in a further 21 first-class games, mainly in the Vodacom Cup and Vodacom Shield competitions.
Career
editPumas
editAfter a spell in Pretoria where Botes played for the Blue Bulls U21 side in 2001,[1] as well as club rugby for the University of Pretoria second team the Fezelas[2] and their main side UP Tuks in 2002,[3] Botes moved to Witbank to join the Pumas for the 2002 Currie Cup competition.[4][5] He became a regular for the Pumas, making 42 appearances for them in the 2003 Vodacom Shield, 2003 Currie Cup, 2004 Vodacom Shield and 2004 Currie Cup competitions.
Sharks
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2014) |
Botes made the move to Durban to join the Sharks prior to the 2005 Super 12 season.[6] He made his Super Rugby debut in the opening match of the competition, a 26–12 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town,[7] the first of many as he established himself as a regular for the Sharks over the next decade at both Super Rugby and Currie Cup level.
During the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division, he broke the record for the most number of Currie Cup appearances when he played in his 143rd match against Western Province.[8][9]
The following season, he became the first ever player to appear in 150 matches in the Currie Cup, when he was named in the starting lineup for their Round Four match against former side the Pumas.[10] He increased this record to 156 before his retirement at the end of the 2014 season.
Barbarians
editHis final ever appearances was for the Barbarians against the Leicester Tigers on 4 November 2014 in a match celebrating Barbarians' 125th anniversary. He scored the final try in a 59–26 victory and also slotted the resultant conversion.[11]
External links
edit- Sharks profile
- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Jacques Botes". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
- itsrugby.co.uk profile
References
edit- ^ "Dié Bloues sal nie grootkop kry nie, verseker hul afrigter" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 21 September 2001. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Fezelas kraai koning" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 10 April 2002. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Likkewanne steeds aan die wenkant" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 17 April 2002. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Klem op vaart in Pumas se agterlyn teen Arende" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 12 September 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Jacques Botes kry oplaas kans vir Pumas" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 18 September 2002. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Elf nuwes in Sharks-groep" (in Afrikaans). Beeld. 9 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – Investec Stormers 26–12 Sharks". South African Rugby Union. 25 February 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Botes could break a significant record". SuperSport. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
- ^ "SA Rugby Match Centre – The Sharks 13–17 DHL Western Province". South African Rugby Union. 12 October 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- ^ "Botes breaks new ground". Rugby365. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ "Leicester 26, Barbarians 59: Tigers downed in 13-try spectacular in revival of traditional fixture". The Telegraph. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.